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Safety Net Journal Issue 13 |
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HSE Board fails to back call for maximum temperature
The Health and Safety Executive Board discussed a paper from the HSE on maximum temperature in the workplace at their meeting in October.
The HSE paper included a research paper from Professor Ray Kemp who had chaired the stakeholder meeting. Unfortunately, despite the arguments from Usdaw and other unions represented, the paper more or less came down against a specific legal maximum temperature. The TUC members on the HSE board made the case for the inclusion of a maximum temperature in the Approved Code of Practice to the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations but were not successful. Instead the HSE Board decided to call for more research into the issue, including which sectors are most effected and the effect of the various options outlined in the HSE paper. There was however a consensus that something had to be done to address the issue even if this only takes the form of more guidance for certain sectors.
The HSE Board conclusions will now be presented to Yvette Cooper the Secretary of State at the DWP. Usdaw will continue to call for inclusion of a maximum temperature in the legislation.
To see the HSE Board paper go to:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hseboard/2009/230909/psepb0987.pdf
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