Keeping your workforce safe in high temperatures

The UK has recently experienced the hottest day in May since records began, with temperatures of 35.1°c being recorded in Kew Gardens.

Currently there is no legal minimum or maximum working temperature in the UK. The law does state, however, that indoor temperatures should be reasonable and safe during working hours. 

With no legal requirement, what is reasonable is of course, open to interpretation. Guidelines suggest that indoor workplaces should maintain a minimum temperature of 16°C (or 13°C where the work activity is physically strenuous). 

Higher temperatures could be managed with air conditioning, fans and windows as appropriate. Some workplaces will have heat sources within them, like kitchens. These may require specific risk assessments. 

What are the key areas of concern?

As an employer you have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of your workforce. When considering employees working in high temperatures there are three key areas that you should consider:

1. Ultra violet (UV) ray exposure
2. Heat exhaustion
3. Dehydration

Under the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations, as an employer you should be carrying out risk assessments to ensure you are identifying these risks and how to eliminate or mitigate them.

UV ray exposure

UV rays in sunlight can damage skin. Sporting a golden tan is an indication that you have been exposed to skin damage, just as being sunburnt damages the skin. Continued over exposure can lead to permanent skin damage including serious conditions such as skin cancer.

For workers who are outside for long parts of the day, they are likely to be exposed to more sunlight than is healthy. This will include many involved in the construction industry, agriculture, horticulture and some public service workers, among others.

Whilst everyone can be at risk from UV ray exposure, those with fair skin, red or fair hair and people with a large number of freckles or moles are at an increased risk of skin damage.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion, or heat stress, is when the body’s natural methods for managing its internal temperature start to malfunction. This could be because of air temperature being too high. It can also be impacted by humidity and work clothing (including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)).

If your workforce is in a consistently hot temperature, then heat stress and exhaustion, is a year-round consideration. For other workplaces it may be seasonal. As an employer you have a duty to protect your workers from heat exhaustion.

Dehydration

When working in heat, workers will sweat more which can lead to dehydration. Certain workwear or PPE can also increase sweat production. It is vital that workers keep hydrated to stay safe. 

A simple way to promote hydration can be to readily provide cool drinking water for employees and encourage drinking water “little and often”. There will be certain work activities where this is not possible (for instance during asbestos removal). In these instances, workers should be encouraged to drink before and after the work activity.

How to mitigate these risks

In order to reduce the harmful effects of working in high temperatures, the following can help:

• Workers who are exposed to the sun should wear a high factor SPF on their skin (at least 30 SPF).
• Consider flexible working. On particularly hot days outdoor work could be reduced for the hottest parts of the day (for instance not working outdoors between 11am-3pm). Vulnerable workers (e.g. if pregnant) may be better suited to working at home during particularly hot weather, to avoid heat stress from commuting etc.
• Skin should be covered (workers should not remove their tops when working outside).
• Outdoor workers should wear a hat which covers the neck and ears to avoid sun exposure.
• Workers should stay in the shade where possible, especially during breaks.
• Keep workers hydrated with access to cool drinking water.

How we can help

If your business needs help keeping staff safe in high temperatures, then reach out to us at The Health & Safety Dept. We are on hand to carry out risk assessments and identify how you can keep staff safe in hot weather. We can help develop sun protection policies and provide essential training for staff. Contact us today to get started.