Managing Heat In The Workplace

As the United Kingdom enters what appears to be another summer of heatwaves. Kevin Clancy, Partner in our Workplace, Risk and Regulation Group discusses the legal implications of this upon UK employers.

Temperatures in the UK have climbed to more than 30 degrees on a number of days during the first half of June. That follows on from a record temperature of over 40 degrees having been set in the summer of 2022.

UK temperature records from the Met Office show that, since 1884, all of the UK's ten warmest years have occurred in the last two decades. So managing the heat is likely to be an issue for employers for many summers to come.

THE LAW ON HEAT IN THE WORKPLACE

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their staff and others present in the workplace. But there is presently no set minimum or maximum temperature for indoor workplaces.