The Civil Contingency Unit (CCU) issue Heatwave Alerts and this week issued a Yellow Heat-Health Alert. Practical actions managers may wish to consider to mitigate the risk to employee health.
What’s the concern?
During a heatwave employees are more susceptible to heat stress, typical symptoms may include:
An inability to concentrate, muscle cramps, heat rash, severe thirst, fainting, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Where reasonable to do so, Managers are advised to:
- Instruct staff to keep hydrated, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated or carbonated drinks
- Increase ventilation in the workplace by opening windows and where available provide fans to promote local cooling (please do not compromise the fire strategy of a building by leaving designated fire doors open.) Or, if fans are not available it may be more effective to keep the windows shut and blinds down, otherwise hot air is let in.
- Consider introducing work systems to limit exposure, such as flexible hours or early/late starts to help avoid the worst effects of working in high temperatures
- Consider the need for more regular breaks, allowing employees to cool down between activities
- Consider a relaxation in formal dress codes
- Where working in direct sun light is unavoidable, refer to requirements of SC Sun Protection Policy
- Consider rescheduling activities to avoid strenuous activities which increase heat stress
- Ensure there are arrangements for consulting employees
- Consider the impact PPE has on the employee’s thermal comfort
Learn more:
- Comprehensive guidance from the Health and Safety Executive
- Thermal Comfort Checklist will help managers carry out a basic thermal comfort risk assessment and identify whether a more detailed risk assessment is required
- SC Sun protection policy
- Sun Protection Info Sheet 22 (SCHOOLS ONLY)
