date: 25 July 2006

embargo: 00.01hrs 26 July 2006

Employers warned to keep workplaces cool as TUC calls for new max temperature

As the temperature continues to soar this week, the TUC is today (Wednesday) warning employers that they may be breaking the law if they fail to protect workers from the effects of extreme heat.

Although under UK law there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature, health and safety regulations place a duty on employers to make sure that the inside temperature is 'reasonable' during working hours.

If the temperature gets too hot then the regulations say that employers must take action to reduce the heat by introducing air conditioning or distributing fans, providing plentiful amounts of cold drinking water, moving staff away from windows or allowing them to dress down.

The TUC is warning that if employers fail to keep workplaces cool, they could be liable if a member of staff falls ill because of the heat or has an accident at work because they are feeling tired or faint.

But the lack of a clear maximum temperature means that many employers are confused about what they must do and when they have to act. The TUC wants to see a maximum working temperature of 30 º C, or 27 º C for those doing strenuous work. At this point employers would have to take steps to cool workplaces down.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Whilst most sensible employers will be doing their utmost to keep their staff cool in the oppressive heat, there will always be some too mean to do anything to bring their office or shop temperatures down.

'Bosses who fail to adopt the cool work approach risk damaging their firms' productivity as their employees wilt in the heat. They also increase their chances of ending up in court, because someone has fallen ill or has had an accident because it got too hot. Employers clearly cannot control the weather, but there is much they can do to keep staff cool, and a clear maximum temperature would make a real difference.'

NOTES TO EDITORS: Regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states that the 'temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable during working hours.' A 'reasonable temperature' is defined in the accompanying code of practice as one which provides reasonable comfort without the use of special clothing although the guidance fails to state a maximum temperature. The code stipulates that where maintaining these standards is impractical, employers must take all reasonable steps to achieve a comfortable temperature.

- Working in the heat can cause injuries and illness, directly and as a result of greater stress, increased violence and lack of concentration.

- Workers affected include transport workers, retail and factory staff, cooks, farm workers and construction workers. Office workers also suffer problems from the heat - lack of concentration can cause nasty accidents, with slips and trips still the major injury risk. Prolonged concentration sitting at a computer during a heatwave will leave workers stressed, tense, exhausted and probably suffering from headaches and eye strain. People who work with the public, for example, benefit staff, leisure workers, shop workers, teachers and bank staff, could be exposed to increased levels of violence.

- People who work in the heat already are at increased risk of heat exhaustion when the outside temperature goes up, for example cooks, bakers and foundry workers.

- The law on minimum temperatures is clear and unambiguous - 13 º C for strenuous work, 16 º C generally.

- Last week the TUC launched its cool work campaign,

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07881 622416 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 26 Jul 2006