Temperature is a very important factor in the working environment, affecting employers’ obligations and employees’ rights. Depending on the type of work performed and the place where it is performed, in some cases employers can influence the surrounding temperature. However, it is difficult to talk about this when working in an open space. The problem of temperature in the workplace was noticed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, which developed a guide recommended, including by the National Labor Inspectorate, containing tips on reducing the risk associated with working in hot weather.

Employees working in work premises can count on specific monitoring by the employer regarding the prevailing temperature and appropriate corrections in this respect, in particular regarding the minimum temperature. However, it is difficult to talk about direct correction of the temperature prevailing in an open space, which has an obvious impact on the comfort of work of people working outdoors or in the „fresh air”.

The problem is that the temperature on a global scale is increasing, and increasingly frequent extreme heat events may affect the condition of employees, including exhaustion or heat stroke. Working outdoors at high temperatures may result not only in reduced efficiency and quality of work, but also affects the safety of performed duties.

Even though the issue of temperature in the workplace is regulated by provisions on technical work safety, in practice it is worth referring to more comprehensive and descriptive studies. One of them is a guide developed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, containing tips on reducing the risks associated with working in hot weather. From the publication you can learn about organizational and technical measures to counteract the risks associated with working in the heat. Information is also provided on what actions should be taken if an employee begins to show signs of illness related to high temperature. It’s also worth knowing that the guide provides practical tips on managing the risks of working at high temperatures and what to do if a worker begins to suffer from heat-related illness. The guide is based on existing guidance from the US National Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NIOSHA), the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health (CCOSH) and Safe Work Australia.

The advisory shows that rising ambient temperatures could impact workers in almost every sector, causing heat stress, but the current focus is on outdoor workers in agriculture, forestry and construction, emergency services and healthcare workers. Occupational risks resulting from heat stress depend on geographical location, and the severity of health problems may be influenced by other factors, such as age or comorbidities. They should be taken into account when establishing preventive and protective measures.

A human is able to maintain an internal body temperature of approximately 37°C. If the balance between the accumulation and release of heat by the body is disturbed, the employee may begin to suffer from heat-related illness.

Heat stress is the total heat load to which a worker may be exposed due to the combined effects of metabolic heat, clothing, and environmental factors (i.e., temperature, airflow, humidity, and thermal radiation). Mild or moderate heat stress may lead to discomfort and negatively impact performance and safety, but is not harmful to health. Extreme temperatures directly impact health by impairing the body’s ability to regulate internal temperature.

The guide mentioned at the beginning refers to the issue of long-term effects of exposure to high temperature as well as the risk of accidents, pointing out that some types of damage to the heart, kidneys and liver are associated with long-term exposure to high temperature. However, these data are not conclusive. Chronic heat exhaustion, sleep disturbances, and susceptibility to minor injuries and illnesses have been attributed to the potential effects of long-term exposure to high temperatures. Exposure to high temperatures can increase the risk of workplace injuries from sweaty palms, fogged safety glasses, dizziness, and decreased brain function. Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to effects such as disorientation, impaired judgment, loss of concentration, decreased alertness, insomnia and fatigue, thus increasing the risk of accidents.

Although both employees and employers have no influence on the temperatures generated by nature, the risk of heat stress in the workplace can be reduced through technical and organizational measures and by developing a heat response plan, if possible in combination with an early warning system. warning that can generate heat alerts. Implementing safe work practices to reduce exposure to heat in the workplace first requires proper risk assessment and then implementation of appropriate preventive solutions.

Source:https://www.portalbhp.pl/blog-o-tematyce-bhp/stres-lepszny-niczy-o-lepsze-w-miejscu-pracy-10563.html

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