How to keep your cool in the office when temperatures soar
As the country gets ready for a
last-minute bout of summer heat, employers should be taking a good look at
temperatures inside the office, says Tayside based solicitors and estate agents
Miller Hendry.
Those heading to work as temperatures
soar may well be asking themselves: How hot is too hot? And that applies to
commutes to work, as well as the workplace.
The benchmark often given is that people work best in temperatures between 16°C and
24°C, but in the UK there is no fixed minimum or
maximum temperature requirement for the workplace, says Miller Hendry. Instead, the Health & Safety Executive
says that the temperature should be ‘reasonable’. Defining whether a temperature is reasonable,
however, will depend on the type of work and workplace. It means that an office where workers are
generally sitting down will need to be warmer than a factory where strenuous
manual labour is going on. Similarly, a food cold store or a bakery will each
take temperatures to extremes that wouldn’t be reasonable in other
environments, and may require protective clothing.
Alan Matthew,
employment expert with Miller Hendry, said: “For any company that doesn’t have
a clear policy on extreme weather, which covers everything from summer
heatwaves to winter snowstorms, this hot spell is another prompt to undertake
risk management in this area. What comes out of that will determine any special
provisions that may be needed.
“What’s important is having a clear policy that everyone knows about and then being consistent in how it is applied. It doesn’t necessarily have to be exactly the same for everyone, as some groups may need special treatment, but it needs to be fair.”
Here is Miller Hendry’s advice for dealing with temperatures in and on the way to the office:
Make provisions
for employees getting to work Generally, hot weather shouldn't be a reason to avoid travelling
to work, but public transport does occasionally grind to a halt in extreme
temperatures and it’s worth having a policy in place so that staff know what
they should do if cancellations are expected or delays happen. As with working
conditions, for some groups of workers it may be appropriate to make special
provisions.
Take into account
special cases Special consideration should be made for anyone who may
experience greater problems in extreme temperatures because of medical or other
conditions. If someone is pregnant or on medication, they may need more
frequent rest breaks and be given a personal solution, such as a portable fan
or air cooling unit, if there is no fixed air conditioning. Similarly, those working under direct
sunlight or in specialist protective clothing may need special consideration,
as working outside without adequate protection may increase the risk of skin
cancer and working in heavy protective clothing could increase the risk of
dehydration.
Encourage
wellbeing It’s important to avoid dehydration in hot weather so it’s a
good idea to make sure there is easy access to drinking water and to encourage
staff to swap their morning coffee for a cool drink. The average recommended daily water intake of
2 litres for women and 2.5 litres for men should be increased during heatwaves.
It’s also worth reminding everyone to avoid heavy meals and to stay out of the
midday sun, both of which can lead to health issues such as plummeting blood
pressure or sun stroke.
Tempers can rise
too And
finally, it’s worth making sure that managers watch out for tempers that rise
together with the temperature. The connection between hotter than average
weather and higher levels of aggression is generally acknowledged, even if the
reason why it happens is still up for debate, with physiological and
psychological reasons in the mix. At the other extreme, high temperatures can
mean a loss of concentration and increased tiredness, making workers more
likely to put themselves or others at risk.
Alan Matthew added: “Also, for companies with a strict dress
policy, it may be worth considering offering a dress-down option during hot
weather. It doesn’t have to mean you end up with a beach code but it could make
a major difference to comfort levels for staff, which will have a direct impact
on the dynamics in the workplace.”
The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
recommends the following temperatures for different working areas:
·
Heavy
work in factories: 13°C
·
Light
work in factories: 16°C
·
Hospital
wards and shops: 18°C
· Offices and dining rooms: 20°C
For further employment law or other legal advice visit www.millerhendrysolicitors.co.uk