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Gloucestershire Business News

How to chill out at work as temperatures soar

Today is expected to be the hottest June day since 1976 and HR expert Cathy O'Donoghue from Gloucester consultants HR Champions Ltd explains what firms can do to help employees keep their cool while remaining the right side of the law.

Office and factory workers may well be feeling the heat more than most. But when does it become too hot to work and what are employer's responsibilities?

Contrary to popular belief, UK Law does not stipulate a maximum workplace temperature. However the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) refers to the "Thermal Comfort" of employees when discussing employers' legal responsibilities. Thermal Comfort is recognised as a state of mind and is how people feel.

The HSE recommends using the Six Basic Factors when establishing Thermal Comfort. Divided into environmental and personal, the six factors are:

Environmental

• Air temperature - The ambient temperature of the air surrounding workers

• Radiant temperature - Heat that radiates from a warm object; this will most commonly apply in an environment with a heat source such as an oven in a kitchen or dryer in a dry cleaners

• Air velocity - The speed of the air in the workplace that moves across employees. Even when the air is still warm it can have a cooling effect via convection. Still or stagnant air can cause a stuffy feeling in people

• Humidity - Humans reduce body temperature when sweat evaporates from the skin. When there is too much moisture in the air, i.e. the humidity is high, sweat cannot evaporate and so the cooling effect is lost. Workers who have to wear special safety clothes may suffer when the humidity inside their protective garments increases

Personal

• Clothing insulation - More clothes tend to mean we retain more heat in our bodies. Some employees may not have a choice of clothing due to company or job specific uniforms or because of the need to wear protective clothing. Modern, lighter fabrics may be an option where clothing restrictions apply

• Work rate/metabolic heat - Workers with physical jobs will produce heat as they work and this will be further affected by their physical characteristics such as weight, age, fitness level and gender

At work, the risks associated with thermal discomfort include:

• Dehydration and even heatstroke

• General irritability leading to conflict with other employees

• Tiredness, resulting in accidents

• Higher stress levels and associated ailments

Ultimately, during warm spells, common sense should prevail. When remembering your duty of care towards employees, some simple steps that can be taken include:

• Ensure airflow through the building is sufficient

• Where possible, open windows and doors or provide fans

• Make drinks readily available and encourage employees to take an extra break

• Consider alternative shift patterns or working hours i.e. earlier start and finish times

• Introduce a comfort zone where the temperature can be controlled and allow managed access to it

• Relax the dress code, within reason

• Investigate the possibility of alternative working environments. eg. Another office, home, outside

• Pay special attention to those at higher risk i.e. pregnant or older employees

Apart from creating a more comfortable environment during hot weather, such actions will also promote the image of a caring employer, which will in turn bring its own rewards.

For help and advice with managing your workforce and work environment under exceptional weather conditions, call HR Champions Ltd on 01452 331331 or e-mail info@hrchampions.co.uk 

Picture credit: Pixabay

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