The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued the following advice for working safely in hot conditions.
Currently, there’s no law for maximum working temperatures, or when it’s too hot to work. However, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable.
Employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:
- keeping the temperature at a comfortable level, sometimes known as thermal comfort
- providing clean and fresh air
HSE has provided a thermal comfort checklist (download here) that can help you identify whether there may be a risk of thermal discomfort in your workplace. In addition, employees are also encouraged to talk to their employer if the workplace temperature isn’t comfortable.
Working safely in hot conditions
HSE also emphasises the importance of remembering the risks of overheating when working in hot conditions, whether you are inside or outdoors.
The HSE website has practical guidance on what you can do to manage the risks, including:
- Information on factors that can lead to heat stress, and how to reduce the risk of it occurring
- Managing outdoor working environments
Pregnant workers
There is also advice for pregnant workers to the effect that there must be an individual risk assessment.
For more information and advice, see here: Temperature (hse.gov.uk)
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