Rhiannon Ingle
A red heat health alert has been issued for six regions of England: the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and the East of England, during the forecast heatwave later this week.
The weather forecast for Wednesday (24 June) and Thursday (25 June) indicates 'a risk to life for even the healthy population', the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
The Met Office said this week’s heatwave will see temperatures exceed 37°C in the shade and could even see them rise to 38°C to 40°C in some areas.
The alert in question indicates impacts beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies and businesses.
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So what does all this mean when it comes to work?
Well, there aren't actually any specific laws that allow workers to stop working if it becomes too hot.
However, James Muller, Principal Associate in Weightmans’ Health & Safety Team, says that under UK employment law, every employer has a duty of care to ensure a safe working environment and protect the health and welfare of their employees.
"If an employer fails to meet this responsibility, they would face enforcement action (including potential criminal prosecution) from the Health and Safety Executive or Local Authority. Employees might also be able to claim personal injury compensation if they become ill or injured as a result," he adds.
The expert outlines that employers must take all 'reasonably practicable' measures to ensure the health and welfare of their employees. This means they must provide a safe environment where staff are not at risk of heat-related illnesses.
"Employers must also consider those with existing health conditions that could be more severely affected by high temperatures, such as medically vulnerable individuals or pregnant employees," he continued.
As employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of their staff, they must follow two major legal health and safety regulations.
1) They must keep temperatures at a comfortable level.
2) They must provide clean and fresh air.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends the following advice to employers to ensure they're abiding by these two rules:
The HSE also suggest employees take their safety into their own hands during unexpected heatwaves like this, possibly by:
Employees can't leave a workplace unless they feel unwell and need to take sick leave.
Additionally, Muller adds that employees can be sent home if it gets too hot, though there’s no legal maximum temperature for workplaces.