With the temperature rising above 30°C in the last week, employers are being called upon to make sure staff are protected from the sun and heat.

Working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness. As the majority of employees who usually work in air-conditioned offices are still at home, during this summer's heatwave it is proving harder than normal for some to maintain safe and healthy working conditions.

Employers can help their workers by:

• Allowing flexible working: giving staff the chance to work earlier or later will let them avoid the sweltering and unpleasant conditions of the rush hour commute and the hottest parts of the day. Try to keep meetings to the morning or late afternoon so that employees are not tied to their computers when it is hot.
• Keeping workplace buildings cool: where staff are back on site, workplaces can be kept cooler and more bearable by taking simple steps such as having windows that can be opened, using fans, moving staff away from windows or sources of heat, or installing ventilation or air-cooling. Tips to reduce the heat inside the home include shutting curtains and blinds, or moving rooms to cooler areas of the house.
• Temporarily relaxing workplace dress codes: for those back in the office, encourage staff to work in more casual clothing than normal – leaving jackets and ties off and wearing lightweight clothes instead to stay cool. Obviously, people working from home can wear what they like, which is an advantage.
• Keeping staff comfortable: allowing staff to take frequent breaks and encouraging the intake of cold drinks.
• Talking and listening to their staff: staff will have their own ideas about how best to cope with the excessive heat.
• Sensible hours and shaded areas for outdoor workers: outside tasks should be scheduled for early morning and late afternoon, rather than between 11am and 3pm when temperatures are highest. Employers should provide canopies and shades wherever possible.

The law

There’s no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures. However, during working hours the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be ‘reasonable’.

Guidance suggests a minimum of 16°C, or 13°C if employees are doing physical work. And employers have a duty to keep the temperature at a comfortable level and provide clean and fresh air.

The TUC is calling for a change in the law to introduce a new maximum indoor temperature, set at 30°C – or 27°C for those doing strenuous jobs – with employers obliged to adopt cooling measures when the workplace temperature hits 24°C.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“We all love the summer sun. But working in sweltering conditions can be unbearable and dangerous. Employers must make sure outdoor workers are protected with regular breaks, lots of fluids, plenty of sunscreen and the right protective clothing. Indoor workplaces should be kept cool, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day.”

The TUC is also asking employers to consider additional needs that may arise in hot weather from coronavirus health and safety requirements. O’Grady added:

“Safe use of PPE in hot weather is especially important. Staff will need extra breaks to cool down if their equipment reduces ventilation and makes the hot weather harder to handle. Many offices have air conditioning, but few people have it in their homes. Lots of staff still need to work from home, so they may struggle to work during the hottest parts of the day. Employers should allow flexible hours to work when it's cooler.”