Heatwaves what are an employers' responsibilities

Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Frances O’Grady has welcomed the Environmental Audit Committee’s report Heatwaves: Adapting to Climate Change, which recommends the government consult on maximum temperatures for work places.

Whilst the nation waits for the Government to act Ms O’Grady has encouraged all employers to be mindful of the detrimental effects that high temperatures can have on health and has called for employers to keep on being sensible while the hot weather goes on. It is a view that is echoed by Matthew Fell the Chief UK Policy Director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), who said that reasonable employers take the welfare of their employees very seriously, particularly during this unusual weather.

He shares the view of Ms O’Grady that companies can help keep their employees cool by considering a range of measures, from flexible working to help those with punishing commutes to relaxed dress codes, so staff feel more comfortable in their place of work.

There is legislation in place to ensure that workers of all types have a right to a working environment with a minimum temperature that legislation was introduced when heatwaves like the one that the UK has been experiencing for the last eight weeks were rare events.

The Committee expects that heatwaves will become an increasingly regular feature of the British climate and that Government needs to act to protect the health of all members of society.

He shares the view of Ms O’Grady that companies can help keep their employees cool by considering a range of measures, from flexible working to help those with punishing commutes to relaxed dress codes, so staff feel more comfortable in their place of work.

“Ultimately,” he said, common sense needs to be applied, as some employees will have less flexibility than others, for example those wearing safety equipment on construction sites.

No matter where someone works they should always have easy access to drinking water and shade to help keep them both healthy and productive.

Because there is no specific legislation about the maximum temperature in a working environment some employers believe that they have no responsibility to manage the temperature. However, there is more general legislation which requires, employers and employees to proactively manage health and safety. It is this legislation that would be applied if someone was to fall ill as the result of working in an environment where the employer had not managed the temperature properly.

Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee says that more needs to be done to make sure that businesses are aware of the dual threat that heatwaves post to both personal and public health and all levels of the economy.

There is general agreement across industry from employers and trade unions and Public Health England, but, as yet there are no formal guidelines for employers, and no specific regulations for employees to use to ensure that they are safe at work during a heatwave and working in a safe environment.

Information about keeping cool is available from the World Health Organisation,

 

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During a career as a human resources and employee development professional that started in 1981 Michael Millward has worked around the world in a wide range of businesses from start-ups to major conglomerates. His industry experience includes, local and national government, manufacturing, financial services, retail, distribution, hi-tech, e-commerce.

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