The UK is currently enjoying some long-awaited sunshine. But temperatures have risen at a time when the UK government has been advised to set maximum working temperature rules, so many are asking the same question: How hot is too hot to work?
In this interview, Professor Simon Hodder, an expert in environmental ergonomics, explains why there is currently no legal maximum working temperature in the UK, and why factors like humidity, airflow, and the type of work being done make the issue far more complicated than most people realise.
Why there’s no legal “too hot to work” temperature in the UK
“The challenge for setting an upper limit is due to the interaction of different environmental parameters. We often use air temperature to determine exactly how hot we are, but it’s the interaction with humidity that makes that temperature good or bad.
“A high temperature with low humidity feels a lot better than a high temperature and high humidity. If we introduce air movement that can change how survivable that environment is again.
“It’s also not as simple as saying it’s too cold or hot to work. We need to look at how do you carry on running essential systems, such as hospitals, emergency services and railways safely at the same time.”
The hidden health risks of working in hot weather
“High temperatures have an impact on your performance but there could also be some physiological impacts for people working in those environments.
“Prolonged working at high temperatures has various impacts on your body, including sleep quality and recovery, and long-term hydration. Studies have shown that agricultural workers in Europe can suffer long-term chronic kidney problems, associated to the lack of proper hydration over a prolonged period.”
The dangerous cycle of working and sleeping in extreme heat
“Working in a hot environment and then going home to a hot house, a hot bedroom, means that you’ll be getting poor quality sleep. That has an impact on your ability to recover and actively do the following day’s activities. In these circumstances, it’s important to think about how to cool the body down properly – for example, taking a cool bath after a shift.”
Why humidity makes heat so dangerous
“Humidity is really important in terms of determining how challenging it will be for somebody to continue working. It’s a measure of how much moisture is in the air. When it’s at 80%, the air is already quite full of moisture, so sweat can’t evaporate easily, making it harder for the body to cool down.”
ENDS
For further comments or interview requests with Professor Simon Hodder, please email the PR team or call 01509 22224.
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