Why Extreme Heat is a Workplace Hazard

The summer heat has officially arrived, and with it, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has officially issued a heat health alert.

While a bit of sunshine is always a welcome sight, especially across a typically rainy UK, extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it is a genuine workplace hazard.

Whether you are working on a shop floor, in steelworkers, inside a custodial facility or at a desk, extreme temperatures take a massive toll on your body.

Paul McKenna, National Secretary for Health & Safety said:

“As your union, our message is clear: your health and safety cannot be compromised for productivity. Employers have a legal duty to protect you, and they need to act right now.

“Last summer was a massive wake-up call. We cannot treat heatwaves like unexpected surprises anymore. They are part of our working reality, and employers must plan for them.

“When body temperatures rise, it leads to heat stress, which can cause fatigue, dizziness, and a drop in concentration. In many of the sectors Community represents, a momentary lapse in concentration can be catastrophhic.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently reminded employers that even though the UK doesn’t have a legally mandated “maximum temperature” for workplaces, heat is classified as a workplace hazard. By law, your employer must assess risks to your health and safety, and that includes extreme weather.

Protecting workers from the heat doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. We expect employers to engage with Community Health & Safety Reps, and workers to put simple, practical changes into place immediately, including:

• Cooler working environments
• Shifting schedules around cooler parts of the day
• Ensuring employees stay hydrated and comfortable
• Provide weather appropriate PPE and encouraging flexibility
• Watching out for severe fatigue, heavy sweating, pale or clammy skins, headaches, dizziness and nausea

If your workplace is overheated, you should immediately report this to your Community Health & Safety Rep, supervisor or management.

Community, and our team of Health & Safety Reps are here to make sure you return home safe and healthy at the end of every shift. Let’s look out for one another during this heatwave.