Any new government “must change the law on hot workplaces”, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned, as temperatures soared in a UK heatwave on Tuesday 25 June. TUC says hot workplaces put workers at risk of a range of health problems – including cancer – and the union body has called for new legal maximum work temperatures
UK heatwave: won’t someone think of the workers?
With temperatures set to hit 29 degrees C in parts of Britain on 25 June, the TUC is warning that the next government must improve protections for workers by bringing in legal maximum working temperatures.
The union body says that working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, rashes, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness. And outdoor workers are three times more likely to develop skin cancer.
The union body says employers can help their workers during this week’s UK heatwave – and in future – 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. Bosses 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 union: Staff will have their own ideas about how best to cope with the excessive heat.
Outside working
And for staff working outside during the UK heatwave, 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. Bosses should provide canopies or shades where possible.
There’s currently no law on maximum working temperatures. However, during working hours the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be ‘reasonable’.
Employers do, however, have a duty to keep the temperature at a comfortable level and provide clean and fresh air.
Change needed
The TUC is calling for a change in the law so that employers must attempt to reduce temperatures if they get above 24 degrees C and workers feel uncomfortable during a UK heatwave.
The union body would also like ministers to introduce a new absolute maximum indoor temperature, set at 30 degrees C (or 27 degrees C for those doing strenuous jobs), to indicate when work must stop.
The TUC also wants future ministers to invest in future-proofing workplaces against the climate crisis, by investing in our buildings and infrastructure, so that they remain functional during heatwaves.
Adapting to a hotter climate and more events like the current UK heatwave means upgrading our workplaces and homes, our energy, water and transport networks.
UK heatwave: we’re struggling to cope
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
Most of us will be very happy to see the sun after such a cold and wet start to the year.
But working in sweltering conditions can be unbearable and dangerous – so spare a thought for those in overheated shops, baking offices or toiling outdoors in direct sun.
Indoor workplaces need to be kept cool, 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.
Our buildings, infrastructure, and laws were made for a different climate in a different century.
Extreme heat is becoming the norm and we’re struggling to cope. We need to adapt – and that means improving the law, investing in resilience and delivering climate action.
Featured image via Envato Elements
