Although there is currently no law on what a maximum temperature should be in the workplace, employers have a duty of care to keep staff safe while working in hot weather. Employers will need to be mindful of any employee with medical conditions that could be exacerbated by working in high temperatures and may have to consider making reasonable adjustments if the duty is imposed. Employers should therefore be assessing the risks and putting appropriate control measures in place. Further information can be found here
What should PDA members do if their employer isn’t doing this?
If your workplace is getting too hot, make sure you speak to your line manager. You will know your workplace best, so you may want to suggest realistic measures that could help. If your manager is based elsewhere, address your concerns by phone or email. If the conversation is verbal, make sure you follow up in writing, confirming if you have raised your concern about the health and safety of yourself, staff and patients.
If the issue isn’t resolved after notifying your line manager, contact your local PDA Rep. If you are not sure who your local PDA Rep is, email organising@pda-union.org.
What can PDA Reps do?
- PDA Reps can ask the employer for information on how workplace temperatures will be adequately controlled during hot weather.
- PDA Reps should ensure that the employer has suitable plans in place, in advance, for heat/raised temperatures in the workplace. Questions can be raised at the Safety Committee.
- PDA Reps can support members with complaints about heat/temperature in the workplace by raising them with the employer.
Keeping safe and well in hot weather factsheet
While many of us welcome warmer weather, it is important to remember that extremely hot weather conditions can lead to serious health risks. Therefore, the PDA has developed the below factsheet for members.
Read the factsheet here
Get involved
- If you are interested in becoming a PDA Health & Safety Rep, find out more here.
- PDA Reps who have completed the PDA Reps Induction online can register for a free Health and Safety Reps course here
Learn more
- Keeping safe and well at work in the heat
- Temperature in the workplace
- Working in the heat: know your rights
- Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather
- Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather
- Temperature management of medicines in a pharmacy
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.