Employers across the West of England are being encouraged to do more to protect their workers during the hot weather this summer.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris wants bosses to take pre-emptive action, with forecasts suggesting temperatures in excess of 30ºc during the summer months.
While temperatures around this level have been recorded in June in the past, it is early in the month for it to be so hot. Meteorologists say the chance of Britain experiencing a hot summer is now 45%, which is 2.3 times the normal figure.
The warning leaves the nation braced for a possible repeat of last year’s record-breaking heatwave which saw temperatures break the 40ºc record in the UK for the first time.
The hot weather prompted a 1000% rise in workers seeking advice from the Health and Safety Executive.
Although there’s no legal maximum temperature for workplaces, Mr Norris says heat is a hazard and should be treated as such by local employers.
He pointed out that working in extreme heat can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting, and, in the most extreme cases, loss of consciousness.
Mr Norris has also raised concern over outdoor workers, who are three times more likely to develop skin cancer.
The Metro Mayor is calling on employers to do things like allowing flexible working with different start and finish times and keeping workplaces cool on days with particularly high temperatures.
He also wants all employers to have an open discussion with their workers on hot days to manage risks better.
Dan Norris said: “Last summer should have been a wakeup call for all of us, not least ministers – once again it is unusually hot because of the climate crisis we all face, and that spells trouble for West of England workers.
“The truth is the extreme weather we saw will only get more frequent over time, not less.
“That’s why we need clear public health messaging for employers and employees right now.
“Sadly the Government is failing to show leadership here, but we as regional leaders are stepping up.”
