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Scottish Sun
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
When is it too hot to work? Office rights explained for workers
Here's what workers are entitled to as temperatures soar HOT DESK When is it too hot to work? Office rights explained for workers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEMPERATURES continue to rise, and many will be feeling hot under their work collars. The MET Office has forecast that temperatures could hit up to 28C across some parts of the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Woman cools down using a fan and water bottle in a hot office Yet while these balmy conditions may feel like we're on holiday, for those who have to face days in the office and can't be with a fan at home, these are your rights when it gets too hot to work. When is it too hot to work? Unfortunately, it's not simple. Firstly, there's no minimum or maximum temperature for offices or other places of work defined by law. But, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said: "An employer must provide a working environment which is, as far as is reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health." The issue is that this definition of what is "reasonable" and "safe" is debatable. National Accident Helpline legal operations director John Kushnick said: "Temperatures in the workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a 'reasonable' temperature in the workplace. "They suggest that the minimum temperature in a workplace should be at least 16°C, or if the work involves rigorous physical exertion, it can be 13°C. "Unfortunately, there are no laws which specifically state that workers can stop working if the temperature gets too hot or cold." But if a workplace does feel too hot, there are some typical signs to look out for if it feels like someone is suffering from heat stress: An inability to concentrate Muscle cramps Heat rash Severe thirst - a late symptom of heat stress Fainting Heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin Heat stroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage Bosses should undertake a risk assessment if enough staff complain about working conditions. The independent health and safety regulator also said: 'If a significant number of employees are complaining about thermal discomfort, your employer should carry out a risk assessment, and act on the results of that assessment.' The HSE has previously suggested bosses should ensure their workers have access to water and monitor their wellbeing in hot weather. What's more, if a staff member is deemed vulnerable, such as those going through menopause or who are pregnant, this should be taken into account. In this instance, vulnerable employees may need to work from home. But this is not possible for everyone, and so businesses may need to adapt. Fans, relaxed dress codes, or turning up the air conditioning are all measures that can make the office environment more comfortable. What are the temperature recommendations? The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers has helpfully recommended the following temperatures for different areas of work. Heavy work in factories: 13°C Light work in factories: 16°C Hospital wards and shops: 18°C Offices and dining rooms: 20°C If you have to take public transport, what are your rights? Much like in the office, these are up for debate as each transport company can set its own policies, and so during a heatwave, there are no laws about temperatures. Therefore, over the coming weeks, travellers are in for some pretty hot journeys. And while Transport for London has said all Tubes will be air-conditioned by 2030, let's not forget the extremely high temperatures Londoners face on the Tube, with commuters claiming they experienced conditions of 42C in 2018! So until the time that commuting is not like walking into an oven, it is recommended that travellers take water bottles and, if possible, wear loose-fitting clothing which is cool and light. Commuters who travel by car are also sharing tips to save money and stay cool when travelling. There are also easy ways to fight the heat at home with some "air con" hacks.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
When is it too hot to work? Office rights explained for workers
TEMPERATURES continue to rise, and many will be feeling hot under their work collars. The MET Office has forecast that temperatures could hit up to 28C across some parts of the UK. 1 Yet while these balmy conditions may feel like we're on holiday, for those who have to face days in the office and can't be with a fan at home, these are your rights when it gets too hot to work. When is it too hot to work? Unfortunately, it's not simple. Firstly, there's no minimum or maximum temperature for offices or other places of work defined by law. But, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said: "An employer must provide a working environment which is, as far as is reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health." The issue is that this definition of what is "reasonable" and "safe" is debatable. National Accident Helpline legal operations director John Kushnick said: "Temperatures in the workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a 'reasonable' temperature in the workplace. "They suggest that the minimum temperature in a workplace should be at least 16°C, or if the work involves rigorous physical exertion, it can be 13°C. "Unfortunately, there are no laws which specifically state that workers can stop working if the temperature gets too hot or cold." But if a workplace does feel too hot, there are some typical signs to look out for if it feels like someone is suffering from heat stress: An inability to concentrate Muscle cramps Heat rash Severe thirst - a late symptom of heat stress Fainting Heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin Heat stroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage Bosses should undertake a risk assessment if enough staff complain about working conditions. The independent health and safety regulator also said: 'If a significant number of employees are complaining about thermal discomfort, your employer should carry out a risk assessment, and act on the results of that assessment.' The HSE has previously suggested bosses should ensure their workers have access to water and monitor their wellbeing in hot weather. What's more, if a staff member is deemed vulnerable, such as those going through menopause or who are pregnant, this should be taken into account. In this instance, vulnerable employees may need to work from home. But this is not possible for everyone, and so businesses may need to adapt. Fans, relaxed dress codes, or turning up the air conditioning are all measures that can make the office environment more comfortable. What are the temperature recommendations? The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers has helpfully recommended the following temperatures for different areas of work. If you have to take public transport, what are your rights? Much like in the office, these are up for debate as each transport company can set its own policies, and so during a heatwave, there are no laws about temperatures. Therefore, over the coming weeks, travellers are in for some pretty hot journeys. And while Transport for London has said all Tubes will be air-conditioned by 2030, let's not forget the extremely high temperatures Londoners face on the Tube, with commuters claiming they experienced conditions of 42C in 2018! So until the time that commuting is not like walking into an oven, it is recommended that travellers take water bottles and, if possible, wear loose-fitting clothing which is cool and light. Commuters who travel by car are also sharing tips to save money and stay cool when travelling. There are also easy ways to fight the heat at home with some"air con" hacks.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Brits believe roads will be fully driverless in 15 years - but want tougher laws
The government has set a timetable for the introduction of self-driving vehicles but research suggests many people are wary People want tough laws to keep driverless cars safe, a poll found. Most think self-driving vehicles will be commonplace within 15 years, and a quarter of young adults expect to buy one in the next three years. But the safety of the rapidly evolving technology is a concern. Nearly four in 10 questioned in research by National Accident Helpline disagreed that the current laws are adequate to address it. This figure rose to more than half among people aged 55 and over. Nearly 60% of the 2,000 respondents agreed that drivers should have a new licence for a self-driving car, while almost eight in 10 think self-driving cars should be required to pass more stringent safety tests than human-driven vehicles. The results come after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this week announced that the government will allow self-driving commercial vehicle pilot schemes from spring 2026. Uber, one of the first firms taking advantage of the move, says it will launch a robotaxi service in partnership with UK AI firm Wayve in London as soon as next spring. A wider rollout is expected when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027, although local authorities' consent will be required. John Kushnick, legal operations director at National Accident Helpline, said: 'What's fascinating is that many people express safety concerns about self-driving cars, yet often overlook how unsafe human drivers actually are. This highlights a clear gap in public understanding – most accidents are caused by human error, not technology. 'Over a third of respondents said they'd trust autopilot on planes more than a self-driving car, but again, that comes down to familiarity and education. Automation is already making travel safer, and public attitudes will likely shift over time, just as they did with autopilot in planes. "Liability, however, remains a key question. With autonomous vehicles, it's likely that manufacturers will bear more responsibility. "The benefit is that these cars will record everything, making it easier to establish fault. However, we'll need to rethink how insurance works when the human is no longer in control – does the policy belong to the person or the machine?" The implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act has been delayed by a year. It became law in May 2024, was initially hailed as a major step forward for the UK's self-driving car ambitions, establishing a legal framework stating that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, the manufacturer - not the human occupant - is liable for its behaviour, with the intention of paving the way for the introduction of autonomous vehicles as early as 2026. Several factors contributed to the government's decision to push back the approval date, with safety concerns playing a major role.
