Whilst we all love the warmer weather during the summer months, those working both indoors and outdoors during the hot weather can be uncomfortable and at risk of becoming unwell. So, what are the rules and regulations relating to working in hot weather?
There is, in fact, no specific law stating a maximum temperature for safe working or when a workplace should be closed due to the high temperatures, as this will be very workplace-specific. However, every employer does have a duty to think about the risks presented by working in and outdoors during hot weather, properly assess these risks and put appropriate measures in place to manage these risks and keep workers comfortable.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable temperature for indoor areas of construction sites. Employers must also provide employees with suitable protection from hot weather if working outdoors.
The HSE have produced a helpful guide to managing workplace temperatures, which can be found here.
This guide contains lots of useful information about what your employer should be doing to keep you safe when working in extreme temperatures.
What can you do to help keep yourself safe and comfortable when working in hot temperatures?
Dress appropriately - Workplace dress codes are often relaxed during hot weather to allow for lighter, more breathable clothing, so you should do this to try to keep yourself cool, whilst adhering to any company dress codes and maintaining a professional or appropriate appearance.
Protect your skin – Always wear sun cream and a hat when working outside in hot temperatures to avoid severe sunburn or sunstroke. Try to work in the shade wherever possible.
Talk to your employer – If you are feeling uncomfortable at work due to high temperatures and are struggling to work effectively or are feeling unwell, speak to your employer about measures they could put in place to make you more comfortable. It may be something as simple as providing a fan, providing extra breaks or allowing you to work slightly different hours in order to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Set up your workstation correctly – position your workstations away from direct sunlight so that you can properly see any computer screens. Use blinds if necessary.
Stay hydrated – this sounds obvious but drink plenty of water when working in warmer weather to help keep you cool and hydrated.
Remove PPE immediately after use – heavy PPE may increase the risk of heat stress in hot temperatures. Don’t wear this for longer than it is needed and take your time when wearing it to avoid over-heating.
What should your employer be doing?
Your employer can take many simple and reasonable steps to keep you more comfortable in hot conditions, including providing windows with blinds that can open, providing fans or air conditioning, allowing flexible working hours during hot weather and regular breaks, relaxing formal dress codes during hot weather and providing adequate shade for outdoor work.
If you feel you have been exposed to unreasonable risk of injury due to working in hot weather, please get in touch with our specialist personal injury team on 0161 696 6235 for advice.
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