Responding to the report by the UK Climate Change Committee today (Wednesday) ‘A Well-Adapted UK’, in which it calls for maximum temperature limits to be set for indoor and outdoor workplaces, Ian Cooke, British Safety Council’s Director of Audit, Consultancy and Culture Change, said:
“British Safety Council welcomes this report by the Climate Change Committee, setting out practical steps that the UK Government and others could take to make sure the UK adapts to our changing climate. We must all recognise that rising temperatures and extreme weather pose a growing risk to workers’ health, safety and wellbeing, and also those most vulnerable – the young, old and sick in particular – and urgent actions are needed if we are to protect people and avoid more deaths in the future.
“We support stronger action to help employers manage the risks associated with heat in the workplace. However, any approach to workplace temperature limits must reflect the reality that keeping cool and comfortable is controlled by more than setting a maximum temperature. Humidity, air movement, radiant heat, the physical nature of work, PPE requirements and individual vulnerability all affect how heat is experienced and the risks it creates. So, rather than adopt a rigid, one-size-fits-all maximum temperature, we believe the UK should build on existing health and safety principles, based on risk assessment and reasonably practicable controls. This is similar to the current approach used for low temperatures, where guidance differentiates between sedentary and physically demanding work.
“The Climate Change Committee is also absolutely right to call for more and better information and guidance for employers and their staff. Employers need clearer advice on sensible and proportionate controls, including ventilation, shading, hydration, work-rest cycles, flexible working arrangements, cooling spaces, acclimatisation, and the adaptation of PPE and work schedules during periods of extreme heat.
“As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, protecting workers from heat stress and thermal discomfort must become a core part of workplace risk management. The focus should remain on creating safe, healthy and productive working environments, rather than relying solely on absolute temperature limits that may not reflect the actual level of risk.”