Too hot to work - When might it be unfit to do so?

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Temperatures are set to soar across the UK this week, with some areas hitting the 30-degree mark.

But if you’re sat in a stuffy office, factory or workplace, you might be wondering if there are rules in place around how hot it can get before work is called off.

Too hot to work

In this article, we look at the rules around workplace temperatures and what actions employers should be taking to ensure workers are kept safe.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 lays out the regulations employers must follow, to ensure that so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.

We look at what this means in terms of warm weather and if you could be getting a day off in the sunshine.

Legal working temperatures for the UK

According to the Health and Safety Executive, there are no laws for maximum working temperature because every workplace is different.

However, the guidelines say that employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:

Keeping the temperature at a comfortable level
Providing clean and fresh air

How to protect workers

The Health and Safety Executive lays out guidelines on how to protect workers in high or low temperatures. Meanwhile, workers should talk to their employer if the workplace temperature isn’t comfortable.

Indoor workplaces

Employers should provide:

A reasonable working temperature in workrooms – usually at least 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work
Local heating or cooling (using fans, opening windows, using radiators) where a comfortable temperature cannot be maintained throughout each workroom, such as in hot and cold manufacturing processes
Rest facilities where necessary, eg for hot work or warm clothing in cold stores
Heating systems which do not give off dangerous or offensive levels of fume into the workplace

When people are too hot

You can help ensure people are comfortable in warm conditions by doing the following:

Provide fans, such as desk, pedestal or ceiling-mounted ones
Provide air-cooling or air-conditioning and adequate ventilation
Ensure windows can be opened to keep air circulating
Shade employees from direct sunlight with blinds or by using reflective film on windows
Position workstations away from direct sunlight or sources of heat
Place insulating materials around hot plants and pipes
Provide cold water dispensers (water is better than caffeine or carbonated drinks)

Flexible working

You can also change work arrangements to avoid people getting too hot:

Introduce flexible working patterns, such as job rotation, moving workers to cooler parts of the building where possible
Allow enough breaks to allow workers to get cold drinks or cool down
Relax formal dress codes – but make sure personal protective equipment is used if required

We have advice on assessing the risks of heat stress and protecting workers from it:

Outdoor Working

Working outside in extremely warm weather can have a serious impact on worker’s health if the risks have not been properly managed.

Without the correct protections, long periods in the sun can cause conditions such as skin cancer, or affect a worker’s ability to use tools and machinery safely.

How to keep workers safe

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day
Provide more frequent rest breaks and introduce shading to rest areas
Provide free access to cool drinking water
Introduce shading in areas where people are working
Encourage workers to remove personal protective equipment when resting to help encourage heat loss
Make sure workers can recognise the early symptoms of heat stress

Working in the sun

Too much sunlight can cause skin damage including sunburn, blistering and skin ageing. In the long term, it can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer.

Who is at risk?

If your work keeps you outdoors for a long time your skin could be exposed to more sun than is healthy for you. Workers most at risk may include farm or construction workers, gardeners, outdoor activity workers and some public service workers.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Keep your top on
Wear a hat with a brim or a flap that covers the ears and the back of the neck
Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunchtime
Use a high-factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on any exposed skin
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots. See a doctor promptly if you find anything that is changing in shape, size colour, itching or bleeding

When is it too hot to work? Rules and regulations explained