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Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Does the UK heatwave make it too hot to work? Employer rules explained
With tempertaures across Scotland skyrocketing yesterday, is there a temperature that makes it too hot to work? Scotland was hit with its hottest day of the year yesterday, with temperatures soaring to 28.9 degrees at the shores of Loch Ness in Drumnadrochit. Many other places across the country weren't far behind this record high, with temperatures reaching 28.7 degrees in Aberdeenshire, 28.4 degrees in Edinburgh and 27.3 degrees in Glasgow. With these temperatures way above the average for this time of year, with June normally recording a high of 17 degrees, many of us tried to make the most of the weather by soaking up as much of the sun as possible. However, with these record highs falling on a Friday, many Scots still needed to go about their daily routine and go to work. While jobs can range from manual labour to office work, many of us may be wondering if there is a point the mercury needs to reach before Brits can be excused from work? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Currently there is no maximum temperature specified in law that can stop people from having to work, reports the Mirror. This is due to some jobs always having to work in hot conditions, such as those working in glass works. However, this doesn't mean that employers can force their staff to work in uncomfortable conditions, as they still have to make sure that the workplace is a safe environment. William Walsh, a partner in the employment team at law firm DMH Stallard, said: "The legal responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace still apply and this means carrying out a risk assessment and ensuring that employees work in temperatures that are reasonable and do not place their health and safety at risk. "The nature of the work will be relevant, as will factors such as whether employees need to wear protective clothing as part of their job that may make it harder still for employees to keep cool." For those who work in an office space, this could mean altering specific dress codes. For example, taking away the requirement to wear a tie, long trousers and shirts while the temperature rises. Additionally, the same healthy and safety obligations apply for people who work from home. William said: "The risks should be much lower, as home workers are unlikely to be undertaking physical tasks and, even if they were told to stop working, those individuals would still be in their same home environment. "But the issue should not be discounted altogether. If, for example, it was known that an employee was working from their home office set up in a small box room up in a loft conversion, where it could get uncomfortably hot, they should be encouraged to move." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. However, some people are wanting to make changes to the law. For example, the TUC worker's union wants to make it illegal to keep people at work indoors if the temperatures soar to over 30 degrees. They also want protection put in place for people who work outside or drive for a living. Additionally,the union also thinks workers should be allowed to take regular breaks to help keep them cool when the office is too warm. On the flip side, while there isn't a maximum working temperature, there is a recommended minimum temperature for a work place to stand by. However, it should be noted that this also isn't set in law. The minimum recommended temperature is said to be 16 degrees, with it slightly lower at 13 degrees for those who take part in physical labour. In Britain, the Health and Safety Executive provides the regulatory framework for workplace health and safety.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Is it too hot to work from home or the office? UK workers' rights explained
The UK is preparing for a heatwave, both mentally and physically, which could plunge the nation into sweltering 35C temperatures. Today (Friday, 20th June) is a normal workday for most, and not everyone is fortunate enough to have the weekend off. This has led some to question if it can ever be too hot to work from home or the office, what the rules are for employers and their duty of care to their employees? Read more: Millions of UK households told to spend £49 before end of Friday William Walsh, a partner in the employment team at law firm DMH Stallard, explain: "All employers have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of their employees in the workplace so far as reasonably practicable. "Failure to do so can not only result in sanctions against the organisation, but also criminal liabilities for directors and managers. "When it comes to working in hot conditions, there is no maximum working temperature specified in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This would be impractical, as some work environments will always involve exposure to high heat, for example those working in glass works. "From a risk perspective, there will also be a difference between those undertaking very physical tasks in the heat, compared to those with more sedentary roles. "While there is no specified maximum temperature, this does not mean that heat can be ignored. "The legal responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace still apply and this means carrying out a risk assessment and ensuring that employees work in temperatures that are reasonable and do not place their health and safety at risk. "The nature of the work will be relevant, as will factors such as whether employees need to wear protective clothing as part of their job that may make it harder still for employees to keep cool. "For office workers, employers should also consider dress codes, particularly if the normal requirement is that employees wear long trousers, shirts and ties. Employers need to be aware of the health risks and the warning signs of an employee suffering from heat exhaustion or other physical effects caused by the heat. "Employers need to remember that, if employees are working from home, the health and safety obligations still apply to that working environment. "The risks should be much lower, as home workers are unlikely to be undertaking physical tasks and, even if they were told to stop working, those individuals would still be in their same home environment. But the issue should not be discounted altogether. "If, for example, it was known that an employee was working from their home office set up in a small box room up in a loft conversion, where it could get uncomfortably hot, they should be encouraged to move and, if necessary, given flexibility around their tasks to allow them to do so."
