Keep staff safe in the heatwave, urges TUC

And the union body is calling on government to improve protections for workers by bringing in a maximum working temperature.

Health warning 

Working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness. 

Alongside risks from heat, sun exposure makes outdoor workers three times more likely to develop skin cancer.

The TUC says employers can help their workers by:   

• Temporarily relaxing their workplace dress codes: Encouraging staff to work in more loose, casual clothing – leaving the jackets and ties at home – will help them keep cool.  
• Keeping staff comfortable: Allowing for frequent breaks and providing a supply of cold drinks will all help keep workers cool. 
• Allowing flexible working: Giving staff the chance to come in earlier or stay later will let them avoid the stifling and unpleasant conditions of the rush hour commute. Employers should also consider enabling staff to work from home while it is hot. 
• Keeping workplace buildings cool: Workplaces can be kept cooler and more bearable by taking simple steps such as using air conditioning, fans, moving staff away from windows or sources of heat. 
• Climate-proofing workplaces: Preparing buildings for increasingly hot weather, by installing ventilation, air-cooling and energy efficiency measures.
• Talking and listening to staff and their unions: Staff will have their own ideas about how best to cope with the excessive heat.

And for staff working outside, the TUC recommends:

• Sun protection: Prolonged sun exposure is dangerous for outdoor workers, so employers should provide sunscreen as a form of personal protective equipment.
• Sensible hours and shaded areas for outdoor workers: Outside tasks should be scheduled for early morning and late afternoon, not between 11am-3pm when UV radiation levels and temperatures are highest. Employers should provide canopies or shades where possible.

Change needed

There’s currently no UK law on maximum working temperatures, unlike other countries. However, employers have a duty to keep the temperature at a comfortable level and provide clean and fresh air. 

The TUC says that stronger protections are needed that give greater clarity to both employers and staff. It is calling for changes to the law so that in indoor workplaces:

• Employers must take steps to reduce temperatures if they get above 24 degrees C and workers feel uncomfortable.
• Work must stop above a maximum temperature of 30 degrees C, or 27 degrees C for those doing strenuous jobs.

This would move Britain closer to standard practice in other countries, like Spain and Germany, that have maximum working temperatures enshrined in workers’ rights.

Climate change

The TUC is calling on ministers to make sure British workplaces are fit for a warmer climate.

Public and private investment is needed to upgrade our buildings and infrastructure, so that they remain functional during heatwaves.

We must also continue with climate action so that we can prevent global heating become more extreme, with greater costs to our lives.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said, “Most of us will welcome the chance to enjoy some proper summer weather. But this weather isn’t much fun if you’re stuck in an overheated workplace. 

“Indoor workplaces should be kept at comfortable temperatures, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day. 

“And employers must make sure outdoor workers are protected with regular breaks, lots of fluids, plenty of sunscreen and the right protective clothing.

“With heatwaves becoming more common, we need to adapt. We need new laws on maximum working temperatures, improvements to workplaces to keep them cool, and climate action to reduce global heating.”