The Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat as temperatures begin to soar across parts of Greater Manchester towards the end of this week.
Temperatures across England and Wales are expected to reach above 30C while forecasters warn that the extreme weather could cause health issues for vulnerable members of the public. The rest of the public has also been warned that high temperatures could lead to heat stroke, fatigue, headaches and more.
With the return of extremely high temperatures shortly after the last heatwave that swept the country in July, many workers may be concerned about working in difficult conditions. According to the UK government agency, Health and Safety (HSE), there is no official law enforcing maximum working temperatures.
Read more: Met Office issues 'extreme heat' amber warning for parts of Greater Manchester
Currently, official guidance advises a minimum working temperature of 16C, or 13C if employees are doing physical work. While there are no legal temperatures for working, employers must still abide by health and safety laws, which include keeping working temperatures at a comfortable level - known as thermal comfort.
Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 gives workers the right to withdraw from and to refuse to return to a workplace that is "unsafe." In some workplaces, unseasonal extreme temperatures can be created by the work, such as in some manufacturing processes.
The HSE says: "A meaningful maximum figure cannot be given due to the high temperatures found in, for example, glass works or foundries.
"The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment. Regulation 7 deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that:
"During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. However, the application of the regulation depends on the nature of the workplace, such as a bakery, a cold store, an office, a warehouse.”
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