Usdaw takes the heat out of sweltering workplaces

On the hottest weekend of the year so far, shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, convinced the Government at the National Policy Forum at Warwick to protect workers from excessive temperatures.

Currently only a minimum workplace temperature is enshrined in law. Maximum temperatures are the subject of guidance rather than any hard and fast rules, leaving the employees’ comfort up to the employer. Guidance says that temperatures above 25°c are likely to start causing discomfort. Above 30°c heat stress can start to cause health problems.

With thousands of members working at hot checkouts and bakeries, Usdaw has been calling upon the Government to protect its members by requiring employers to keep workplace temperatures down. At the weekend the Government agreed to work with the HSE to carry out a review of the legislation and guidance on workplace temperature to ensure that workers are protected, as far as possible, from excessive temperatures.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, added:

“We welcome this commitment to protect workers from excessive temperatures and are delighted that the Government listened to the arguments we made. It certainly helped our case that we were negotiating on one of the hottest days of the year!

Usdaw has a lot of members who work in hot conditions and they will be delighted with the news of this agreement. In some workplaces it can get so unbearable that the conditions affect not only performance on the job but also the health of the employee.

“We have produced information for our members about keeping cool at work, which can be found on our website. However, if the employer isn’t doing their bit, there is only so much an employee can do. Soon this will change, as the Government has listened to our calls for action on workplace temperature.

“Figures show that even if world leaders work together to combat climate change, Britain’s temperature is likely to rise by up to 2°c as early as 2020. We are pleased that the issue of workplace heat is being addressed now.”

Download Usdaw's Keep your cool leaflet

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 366,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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