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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Workers 'should be sent home' if temperature exceeds 27 degrees, union demands

Workers who are employed in labour-intensive jobs should not have to work in temperatures above 27 degrees, a trade union has demanded.

Unite made the call to the UK Government as the country braces itself for what could be the warmest day on record.

Temperatures are expected to hit 30 degrees across Scotland today.

The union wants 27 degrees to be the safe working limit for those with strenuous jobs and 30 degrees for those with sedentary jobs.

There is currently no law in the UK which states any given temperature is too hot or cold to work.

But workplaces should ideally be at least 16C - or 13C if the job is mostly physical according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Employment law is currently reserved to Westminster - meaning Holyrood has no say on that matter.

Unite national health and safety adviser Rob Miguel said: "We are pressing for a maximum temperature for safe working of 27 degrees Celsius for strenuous jobs and 30 degrees Celsius for sedentary jobs, and a trigger of 24 degrees Celsius where action should be taken to reduce temperatures indoors and strict protection measures put in place for outdoor workers.

"As the climate changes, it is vital that health and safety law is updated in line with the serious challenges this presents for workers. We urge the government to get a move on with this so that there can be no ambiguities in the workplace.

"In the meantime, employers have a legal and moral duty to ensure workers’ health is not damaged during the current hot weather.

"Employers should be increasing the frequency and length of rest periods, while also ensuring that workers have free access to cool drinking water at all times."

The Scottish Greens today backed calls from trade unions for a maximum working temperature.

Green MSP Ross Greer said: "This is an idea whose time has come.

"The temperatures we are seeing this week should not be normal, but they are sadly likely to become just that as the effects of the climate emergency are made clear.

"All employers are required to provide a safe working environment. If they are unwilling to do so, their workers should be protected from extreme heat by the law.

"It shouldn't take government to force employers into protecting their staff. Organisations should be taking steps now to mitigate the worst effects of the heat, including by seriously considering whether workers need to travel into their office at all, or if their work can either be done from home or paused without any loss of pay."

An HSE spokesperson said: "There is no maximum workplace temperature because every workplace is different.

"Responsibility to make workplaces safe and healthy lies with employers. Workplace temperature is a hazard that comes with legal obligations for employers like other hazards."

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