Working in the summer, at extremely high temperatures, is usually not pleasant either for employees outside (e.g. on a construction site, road repairs or on the road) or for those who stay indoors. Due to high temperatures, the human body shows much less ability to concentrate and much worse work efficiency, and at the same time is exposed to general weakness, rapid dehydration and many unpleasant reactions bordering on sunstroke. It is up to the employer to provide employees with appropriate working conditions, regardless of the weather outside.

According to the Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of 26 September 1997 on general occupational health and safety regulations, employees should have access to drinking water in their working environment, at a distance of no further than 75 meters from the workplace. In the case of hot weather, however, drinking water alone may not be sufficient, which is why the employer should provide its employees with free and permanent access to cold drinks. This obligation is regulated by law depending on the type of work performed – for office workers, access to cold drinks is mandatory when the temperature exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, while for manual workers at temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.

Importantly, cold drinks should be available throughout the shift, in an amount that meets the needs of all employees, and the temperature of the drinks themselves should be maintained at a level that ensures immediate refreshment and cooling of the body to a safe temperature without causing internal thermal shock or exposing employees to colds. It is worth noting that if the employer does not provide his employees with cold drinks in the heat, in accordance with Article 283 § 1 of the Labor Code, he is threatened with a fine of PLN 1,000 to even PLN 30,000.

The obligation to provide access to washing water applies to manual workers performing work in the open and informs about the need to provide them with access to showers at a distance of no more than 75 m from the workplace. Such people should be able to cool down not only after the end of the working day, but also during breaks, which in the case of hot weather should be organized more often for the safety and health of employees.

The employer has no formal obligation to dismiss his employees from the working day due to high temperature, however, according to the law, the employee has the right to stop work on his own initiative. According to the Labour Code, he is entitled to such a right when continuing to work could threaten his health or life. Of course, the employer should be informed about the desire to leave the workplace. The latter, in order to avoid a situation in which employees refuse to work due to the prevailing weather conditions, should do everything to provide them with the best possible working conditions, proposing, among other things, to increase the number of statutory breaks from work during the day. Breaks can be slightly shortened compared to a traditional break, but thanks to this, spread over time and regular enough for employees to find a moment of respite in the shade before returning to the sunny position.

In the case of office work or in enclosed spaces, the employer may (but does not have to) decide to install air conditioning and additional ventilation devices in order to facilitate the work of his subordinates, but after their use he must undertake to regularly inspect the devices. The office workstations themselves should be protected against excessive sunlight and uncontrolled heat emission due to radiation by using appropriate adjustable blinds and blinds.

Employers who want to provide their employees with the most comfortable working conditions and meet all legal requirements for the creation of safe workplaces should be particularly sensitive to heat and problems that may be associated with them at individual workplaces. Ensuring that employees have access to cold drinks, showers, more frequent breaks from work or protection from direct sunlight in the form of head protection (for external workers) or blinds in windows and air conditioning (for office workers) is the key to a safe working environment.

Working at high temperatures without replenishing enough fluids can lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes, which in turn can lead to heat stroke, exhaustion, confusion and even fainting. If heat stroke is suspected, an ambulance should be called as soon as possible and then first aid should be provided. The employer should provide additional first aid training for this occasion and make sure that cold compresses, cooling drinks and moistened, cool towels can be found within reach to help reduce body temperature.

Source: https://www.bhp-gabi.pl/a106,praca-w-upale-jak-chronic-zdrowie-pracownikow.html

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.