Temperature at Work - Heat - Advice for safety representatives
UNISON Scotland Community & Voluntary sector e-group
July 2006
Temperature at Work - Heat
This briefing is intended for safety representatives who are concerned
about temperature in their place of work.
It is usually accepted that people work best at a temperature between
16 ° C and 24 ° C, although this can vary depending on the kind of
work being done. Strenuous work is better performed at a slightly lower
temperature than office work. The Chartered Institute of Building
Services Engineers recommends the following temperatures for different
working areas:
Heavy work in factories: 13 ° C
Light work in factories: 16 ° C
Hospital wards and shops: 18 ° C
Offices and dining rooms: 20 ° C
If the temperature varies too much from this then it can become a
health and safety issue. If people get too hot, they risk dizziness,
fainting, or even heat cramps. In very hot conditions the bodies blood
temperature rises. If the blood temperature rises above 39 ° C, there
is a risk of heat stroke or collapse. Delirium or confusion can occur
above 41 ° C. Blood temperatures at this level can prove fatal and
even if a worker does recover, they may suffer irreparable organ
damage.
However even at lower temperatures heat leads to a loss of
concentration and increased tiredness, which means that workers are
more likely to put themselves or others at risk.
At the same time working in the sun can, for many people, increase
their risk of skin cancer, while the glare from the sun can be a
problem for drivers and those working on roofs where roof lights can
blend into the surrounding roof in bright sunlight.
The legal position
An employer must provide a working environment which is, as far as is
reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health. In addition,
employers have to assess risks and introduce any necessary prevention
or control measures.
Unfortunately there is no maximum temperature for workers although the
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations state the
temperature inside workplace buildings must be 'reasonable'. In
addition, the approved code of practice to these regulations states
that 'all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a comfortable
temperature'. The TUC has called for a maximum temperature of 30 ° C
(27 ° C for those doing strenuous work), so that employers and workers
know when action must be taken, although employers should still attempt
to reduce temperatures if they get above 24 ° C and workers feel
uncomfortable.
The Approved Code of Practice to the Workplace Regulations gives
examples of what employers must do to ensure a reasonably comfortable
temperature. This includes:
Insulating hot plants or pipes
Providing air cooling plants
Shading windows
Sighting workplaces away from places subject to radiant heat
Where this is not sufficient, it states that employers must install
local cooling systems, increase ventilation, or fans. The code of
practice also says that other factors, such as protective clothing,
physical activity, radiant heat, humidity, air movement, and length of
time of a person doing a job must all be taken into account when
assessing what a 'reasonable temperature' is.
In addition, the Code of Practice requires employers to provide a
suitable number of thermometers to enable workers to check temperatures
in indoor workplaces.
The regulations also require employers to provide 'effective and
suitable ventilation', however safety representatives must ensure this
is not achieved simply by opening doors, which may be acting as fire
doors.
Although the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations only
apply to indoor workplaces, that does not mean that employers do not
also have a duty to employers working outside. All employers have a
general duty to protect the health and safety of the workforce under
the Health and Safety at Work Act, and also to assess and control risks
from working in hot temperatures, or exposure to the sun, under the
Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations. This includes
drivers where working in a very hot cab can make the person more likely
to have an accident.
There are also other regulations which employers have to comply with in
hot conditions. These include:
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations require employers
to select protective equipment that is suitable for risks, for the
workers using it, and for the working environment. This means that if
personal protective equipment is being used in hot weather, whether
inside or out, it must be designed to allow workers to keep as cool as
possible. This means that when groups such as refuse collectors have to
wear special padding to protect themselves from injury from sharps, the
trousers are designed to ensure that they are still as comfortable in
hot weather as possible.
Manual Handling Regulations require employers to take into account
other factors including hot and humid conditions.
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations require that 'equipment
belonging to any workstations shall not produce excess heat which could
cause discomfort to operators or users'.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations specifically
state that employers have to assess any risks to pregnant women from
extremes of heat as pregnant women tolerate heat less well. The same
regulations state that young workers must not be employed in situations
where they are likely to be exposed to extremes of heat.
Advice for safety representatives - Indoor work
Heat is one of the biggest causes of complaint to safety
representatives during the summer. However, the air temperature which
you can measure from a thermometer is only one part of what safety
representatives have to take into account. Humidity, heat sources,
clothing, any breeze or wind, all can have an effect on how heat
affects someone. In addition, the effects of heat vary depending on the
weight and age of a person.
It is possible to get a more accurate assessment of the situation in
the workplace using a wet bulb globe thermometer or an electronic
equivalent, which measures humidity. The comfort range for humidity is
between 40% and 70%.
However, the best rule of thumb in deciding if it is too hot, is
whether or not your members feel comfortable. If they don't, then
something should be done to protect them.
The following check-list gives some ideas of what a safety
representative might want to suggest to an employer if there are
problems about heat or humidity. However, before you approach their
employer, your may wish to find out from your members where the worst
problems are, what times of the day are worst, and what the causes are.
Measures that might want to be considered could include:
Introducing a properly designed air conditioning system into the
building: In some buildings this is not possible, either because of the
age or type of the building, or because of planning restrictions. A
properly maintained air conditioning system is a very effective way of
reducing temperatures. However, air conditioning systems do use a very
high level of power and other, more environmentally friendly, solutions
should also be considered.
Relaxing dress codes: Often there is no reason why employers have to
insist on workers wearing ties, tights, or jackets for work. The issue
is whether or not the clothing is acceptable in the context of the job
a person does. For instance, insisting that security guards and porters
wear a uniform, with a jacket, in the heat of the summer sun is clearly
unnecessary and inappropriate.
Redesigning the work area: Often simply moving people away from
windows, or reducing heat gain by installing reflective film or blinds
to windows can be a very effective way of keeping a workplace cooler.
Install fans or natural ventilation: Providing fans or windows that
open can also help workers feel cooler, however both these become less
effective at higher temperatures. Portable air-cooling cabinets are
also available, which are more effective.
Allowing staff to be more flexible in their working arrangements: Often
staff have to travel to work in overcrowded trains or buses. Allowing
them the flexibility to finish either earlier or later can help, as can
allowing them more frequent rest breaks.
If none of these measures are sufficient to reduce the level of heat,
and staff are still uncomfortable, then the employer should ensure that
a competent heating and ventilation engineer is employed to survey the
workplace and recommend a permanent solution to the problem.
Workers is some indoor situations such as some factories, mines, boiler
rooms, kitchens and laundries are at even more risk of heat stress or
dehydration. The employer should always seek professional advice on
both reducing heat and protecting workers in these situations, and
workers should be given information about avoiding heat stress and
dehydration, and on how to recognise early symptoms.
Advice for safety representatives - outdoor work
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. There are
around 100,000 new cases of skin cancer every year in this country,
although under 10 % of these are malignant. The vast majority of these
are caused by exposure to sunlight and are easily preventable. However,
outside workers are not just at risk from skin cancer. Exposure to the
sun can blister and burn the skin and cause premature ageing.
Working in hot weather also leads to the possibility of dehydration and
heat stress. This can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting,
and in severe cases a loss of consciousness.
Heat stress can also be a problem for workers who drive as part of
their job. This is particularly dangerous as any driver suffering from
fatigue, giddiness, or fainting, is clearly a major risk to both
themselves and other people. Employers should provide cars, vans or
lorries with air conditioning, or, if a driver is likely to be stuck in
traffic for any length of time, make sure they are not driving in very
hot weather.
Safety representatives should ensure that their employer has done an
adequate risk assessment and taken control measures to ensure that no
worker suffers from sunstroke, excess of sun exposure, dehydration or
heat stress.
For outside workers, this is likely to involve issuing workers with
sunscreen and hats. The employer should also ensure that any protective
clothing is light and suitable. Staff should always be able to have
access to fresh water and regular breaks. Ideally, employers should
organise work so that employees are not outside during the hottest part
of the day.
Further Advice
The TUC 'Work smart' website contains a lot of practical information
and advice for workers on temperature and hot weather. Go to
www.worksmart.org.uk .
In addition, the Health and Safety Executive have some excellent advice
on working in hot environments. Go to www.hse.gov.uk/temperature
Fact sheet (1,800 words) issued 26 Jul 2006