Hot Days in the Office – What Employers Need to Know

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With Britain in the midst of a heatwave, with the potential for the hottest June days since the seventies, Public Health England has issued a health warning to look out for instances of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration and overheating.

This isn’t just a worry on the beach but in the workplace too.

Current UK workplace regulations state that employers must act when the temperature dips below 16⁰C; however, there is no maximum temperature.

We are expecting temperatures of 33⁰C this week so, given the lack of regulations, here is a guide for employers on how to beat the heat.

Peter Ames, Head of Strategy at OfficeGenie.co.uk, said: “While there are no specific guidelines on when it is too hot to work, there are a number of regulations employers and employees alike need to be aware of as the mercury rises.

“For employers, it is your responsibility to do everything you can to ensure the safety and comfort of your employees. This could be anything from bringing in fans to instigating a work-from-home policy. If temperatures do become uncomfortable and you do not act, you could be at risk of legal action.

“For employees, with no temperature guidance at the top end, you have the power to force changes. If temperatures genuinely are uncomfortable, and a significant swathe of the workforce do complain, employers simply have to act.”

Existing Regulations and What Employers Should Be Aware of:

When to Act:

Employers are advised that a thermal risk assessment may be necessary in the following circumstances:

Steps to Take:

If the thermal risk assessment shows heat to be a risk to health and safety in the workplace, the following steps are advised by HSE:

Good Practice:

All employers are also advised the following steps are good practice in creating a low-risk workplace:

Author: Robyn Coppell

Published On: 19th Jun 2017 - Last modified: 21st Jun 2017
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