This week the UK Health Security Agency and Met Office issued the first yellow heat-health alert of the year which prompted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to call on employers to protect workers during periods of extreme hot weather. 

 

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/3004) require employers to ensure that temperatures in all workplaces inside buildings are "reasonable". While a limit is set on minimum workplace temperatures of 16 degrees (or 13 degrees if the work involves severe physical effort), there is no limit on the maximum temperature. Despite the absence of a legal limit, the HSE is calling on employers to take action to protect those working inside and outside in extreme heat. Heat is classed as a hazard and employers must, when assessing health and safety risks to their workers, include risks from extreme weather, such as heat waves. 

 

The HSE promotes a number of simple and affordable measures that employers can take. These include altering working patterns so workers can work at cooler times of the day, relaxing dress codes, providing free access to drinking water and sharing information about the symptoms of heat stress and what to do if someone is affected. The HSE also advises placing workstations away from direct sunlight and heat sources, insulating hot pipes and machinery, and providing weather-appropriate personal protective equipment.  

 

During 2022, 38 MPs signed an early day motion calling on the government to introduce legislation to enforce a maximum workplace temperature while unions also called for similar action at the time and will no doubt do so again this summer. The government has given no indication that it intends to act, which means currently employers must pay regard only to the actual legislation and the non-binding guidance which HSE have released this week.