It’s A Heatwave, So What Temperature Is Too Hot To Work?

If you’re staring down the barrel of the scorching heatwave this week wondering: what temperature is too hot to work? We really don’t blame you. The UK doesn’t exactly hold up all the well under extremes in temperatures.

This week though, we may be especially justified in our groaning, because the mercury is predicted to hit up to 40 degrees celsius in some parts of the country. And, after a very sweaty weekend, the Met Office has issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday and Thursday, with June’s all-time daily record temperature forecast to be broken. Train passengers are being urged to avoid non-essential travel and the RAC has asked drivers whose cars don’t have air conditioning to “strongly consider” skipping unnecessary journeys.

As for getting to (or staying at) work, these conditions make things extra difficult. Especially if your office or working from home space doesn’t have air conditioning – even more so if your job takes you outdoors.

There are some tricks you can try to make things more bearable, but with the UK ill-equipped for this extreme heat, many are beginning to wonder – do we continue to slap on the SPF, turn on our fans, and enjoy an ice lolly while getting on with our everyday lives, or should we be able to swap the office for WFH or even take time off from work until the sweltering heat passes?

What temperature is too hot to work?

Because the heat in the UK this week is nothing like we’ve ever felt before and subsequently something that hasn’t been planned for, unlike many other countries, there is not a specific temperature in place by the law that specifies when exactly it’s too hot to work. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance only sets a minimum temperature to work at 16C (60.8F) or, if physical labour is involved, 13C (55.4F). However, their recent guidance surrounding the weather insists that the temperature in a workplace must be “reasonable” with “clean and fresh air”.

The HSE says: “Employers must make sure indoor workplaces remain at a reasonable temperature and manage the risk of working outdoors in hot environments.” The workplace regulator shared guidance at the end of last week stating “Risks to workers from extreme heat must be managed.”

“Employers need to act now to make sure their workers are protected as a heat health alert has been issued for parts of the country until Tuesday 23 June,” it said.

“Employers must assess risks to the health and safety of their workers by law, including risks from extreme weather such as heatwaves,” it continued. “While there is no legal maximum temperature for workplaces, heat is classed as a hazard and should be treated like other hazards,” it insisted.

It also outlined simple solutions that employers should consider including:

• Making sure workplace windows can be opened or closed to prevent hot air from circulating or building up.
• Using blinds or reflective film on workplace windows to shade workers from the sun.
• Placing workstations away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Putting insulation around hot pipes and machinery.
• Offering flexible working patterns so workers can work at cooler times of the day.
• Providing free access to drinking water.
• Relaxing dress codes if possible.
• Providing weather-appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Encouraging workers to remove personal protective equipment when resting (ideally in shaded areas) to cool off.
• Sharing information about the symptoms of heat stress and what to do if someone is affected.