Tips you need for managing hot workplace temperature

News
Joanne Swann
Sun shining through the trees
Sun shining through the trees

Temperatures reached 30°C this week, which can make balancing a comfortable and safe workplace temperature challenging for businesses.

Health and safety experts from Protecting want to highlight the right procedures to put in place during hot days – with no legal maximum temperature for workplaces in the UK.

1)      Duty of care

Employers have a duty of care to ensure temperatures remain at a comfortable level to prevent workplaces from becoming excessively hot, which can pose serious health risks. This obligation is covered by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. They require employers to perform risk assessments to identify potential heat hazards and implement control measures to maintain safe temperatures.

2)      Find the optimal temperature

Despite the lack of a specific legal ceiling for heat, employers should consider factors to determine the best temperature, such as:

·       The nature of work activities

·       If it’s an indoor or outdoor working environment

·       Type of workspace

·       Available heating and air conditioning systems

·       Number of people using the workspace

These assessments are vital in settings that naturally generate heat like bakeries, kitchens, and industrial plants, where the risk of heat-related illnesses increases.

Another factor to consider when setting up the AC temperature in the workplace is that women are comfortable at a 2.5°C higher temperature than men (24°C-25°C). Finding the perfect temperature that works for everyone might be hard, but 23°C will likely strike a good balance, if the gender ratio is almost equal.

3)      Prevent heat stress

To combat heat stress in high-temperature work environments, employers can implement various strategies. These include:

·       Installing air conditioning or fans

·       Establishing accessible drinking water stations to prevent dehydration

·       Limiting exposure to high-heat areas

·       Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) with cooling capabilities

·       Educating employees on the risks and symptoms of heat stress.

Monitoring the health of workers particularly vulnerable to heat stress is also vital to maintain a safe workplace.

4)      Comfort in cooler conditions

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 do specify minimum workplace temperatures. The Approved Code of Practice sets these minimums at 16°C for general indoor work and 13°C for tasks that involve rigorous physical effort. This ensures that even in cooler weather or less active work environments, employees have a baseline level of warmth to protect their health and safety.

For outdoor work environments, like construction sites, additional protections against cold weather are mandatory. Employers must shield workers from the adverse effects of cold temperatures through appropriate measures, like providing suitable protective clothing.

Regarding hot water in the workplace, systems must manage specific temperatures to reduce health risks, such as the proliferation of legionella bacteria. Hot water should be stored at no less than 60°C and reach at least 50°C within one minute at the outlet, and 55°C in healthcare premises. In contrast, cold water systems should stay below 20°C.

Joanne Swann, Content Manager, WorkWellPro
Editor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional | Website |  + posts

Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.

Share

Latest News

Latest Analysis

Related Articles

Joanne Aitken: Why We Need to Talk About Menopause at Work

Around 4 million women aged 45–55 are working, and 5 million over 50 are part of the UK workforce: an increase of 39% in the past decade.

More Than Half of Employees ‘Feel Like They’re Faking It At Work’

More than half of employees say they feel like they are “faking it” at work despite believing their success comes from their own abilities, according to new research.

Work Offers a Lifeline To Unpaid Carers – But ‘Nearly Half May Cut Hours or Quit Without Support’

Nearly half of unpaid carers who are also in work are considering reducing their hours or leaving employment altogether.

Lucinda Quigley: Menopause Action Plans Risk Failing Without Cultural Change

With the introduction of voluntary menopause action plans, are organisations truly ready, or simply compliant on paper?
Previous article
Podcast release: Protecting the mental health of remote teams
Next article
Mynoo Maryel: Mastering workplace perseverance – 3 codes to help you never give up