Workers Abandon Tasks Amid Rising Temperatures
Many workers are downing tools early, but there is no legal limit to how hot a workplace can be.
By BBC News
Workers are being reminded of their rights during hot weather as the UK still has no legal maximum workplace temperature.
The recent heatwave has renewed concerns over workplace safety as high temperatures make some jobs harder, more uncomfortable and potentially unsafe.
Many workers have been trying to cope with hot offices, shops, warehouses, kitchens, vehicles and outdoor sites during the warm weather.
The issue has gained attention because the UK does not have a legal maximum workplace temperature.
That means employees do not automatically have the right to stop working simply because a workplace reaches a certain temperature.
However, employers still have clear health and safety responsibilities.
The Health and Safety Executive says heat is a workplace hazard and should be treated like any other risk. Employers are expected to assess the risk and take reasonable steps to protect staff.
GOV.UK guidance says temperatures in indoor workplaces must be reasonable during working hours. There is guidance for minimum temperatures, but no equivalent legal maximum for hot conditions.
This has led to renewed calls from unions for a formal upper limit.
UNISON supports the TUC’s call for a maximum indoor workplace temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work. The union says employers should take reasonable steps to keep temperatures as close as possible to comfortable.
For workers, the practical position is that they should raise concerns if heat is affecting safety, concentration, health or their ability to do the job properly.
That may be especially important for people working outdoors, in kitchens, care settings, factories, warehouses, delivery roles, construction, hospitality, schools or poorly ventilated offices.
Employers can reduce risk by improving ventilation, providing fans or cooling, offering drinking water, adjusting shifts, allowing extra breaks, relaxing uniform requirements, moving tasks away from the hottest part of the day and checking on vulnerable workers.
Outdoor workers may also need shade, sun protection, rest breaks and access to cool drinking water.
Heat can affect workers in different ways. It can increase tiredness, reduce concentration and raise the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion or accidents.
The HSE has reminded employers that risks from extreme heat must be managed, even though there is no legal maximum temperature.
For businesses, this is not only a legal issue. Poor handling of heat can affect productivity, staff morale and customer service.
During periods of extreme weather, employers that communicate clearly and make reasonable adjustments are more likely to avoid disputes and keep workplaces running safely.
The debate is likely to continue as hotter summers become more common and more workplaces face pressure from high temperatures.
For now, the law does not set a fixed cut-off point for when it is too hot to work.
But employers still have a duty to manage the risk, and workers should not ignore heat-related symptoms or unsafe conditions.
Anyone who feels unwell in the heat should report it, move to a cooler place where possible and seek medical advice if symptoms become serious.