Temperatures are due to rise across the UK! It’s important to recognise that heat is not just uncomfortable, it is a workplace health and safety risk.
Heat stress occurs when the body can no longer regulate its internal temperature effectively. This can result in fatigue, reduced concentration, dehydration, heat exhaustion and, in severe cases, heatstroke
From an occupational health perspective, this has direct implications for health, safety and productivity. Evidence shows that heat exposure increases physiological strain, contributes to workplace accidents, and reduces work capacity
Who is most at risk?
Outdoor workers (construction, agriculture, roadworks); indoor workers in high-heat processes (e.g. foundries, manufacturing, kitchens); workers wearing PPE or undertaking physically demanding roles, those unable to adjust their pace or environment.
Heatwave risk isn’t the same for everyone! Certain groups are at significantly higher risk, including those with underlying health conditions, those taking regular medication, and workers in safety-critical roles.
Hot weather can:
- Increase risk of cardiovascular strain, dehydration, kidney injury and acute illness
- Exacerbate existing conditions such as respiratory or metabolic disease
- Reduce concentration, increasing the likelihood of workplace incidents
- Cause sunburn
- Lead to fatigue, impairing concentration
- Increase irritability, anxiety and stress with prolonged exposure
- Affect medication! Some commonly prescribed medications can increase vulnerability to heat by reducing sweating or thirst, increasing dehydration risk, affect blood pressure and thermoregulation. Examples include diuretics, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers
What could employers be doing now?
There is no maximum legal working temperature in the UK, so the focus requires a targeted, risk-based approach and not just generic messaging.
What employers can do:
- Carry out a heat risk assessment
- Develop awareness campaigns for their employees, if working in the heat and for those with underlying conditions and on medication to take greater care
- Encourage and facilitate hydration and early reporting of symptoms
- Where feasible, provide fans
- Provide short breaks for those undertaking physical work in the heat
- Adjust duties, hours, or workload where needed
- Provide suncream and encourage hats for those working in the sun
- Scheduling work during cooler parts of the day
- Increasing rest breaks and shaded recovery areas
- Providing accessible drinking water
- Adjusting workload or PPE where practicable
- Ensuring staff can recognise early symptoms of heat stress
#OccupationalHealth #Heatwave #WorkplaceHealth #EmployeeSafety #WellbeingAtWork
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8296111/
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHSE/bulletins/3e5a22d)
https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/employer/outdoor-working.htm
