Unions set the limit on work temperature

This is from the latest issue (Risks 307) of Risks. We will make this
one of the priorities at the next Health and Safety meeting.

As the Met Office continues to promise scorching summer temperatures,
unions are getting in early with some cool advice. Train drivers union
ASLEF is advising its members to refuse on safety grounds to work in
train cabs where the heat levels rise above 27 C. The executive
committee decision came in the wake of reports indicating that there
'were very few agreed arrangements in place to mitigate the risks from
heat exhaustion.' The union says work last year in sweltering cabs was
linked to an increase in potentially serious safety incidents (Risks
299). ASLEF general secretary Keith Norman said the union will inform
all train operating companies of the decision. 'We will also send out
the appropriate legal and health and safety advice to all branches and
reps - so that they have irrefutable justification for any action,' he
said. Teaching union NUT is calling for a lower temperature ceiling, a
new guide advising 'that 26 C should be the absolute maximum
temperature in which teachers should be expected to work, other than
for very short periods. It is important that all schools have in place
contingency plans to help staff and pupils cope with the heat. There
is little that can be done to alleviate particular problems if schools
do not plan in advance and also take note of the weather forecast for
the week ahead.' The guide adds: 'The NUT expects schools to implement
planned measures to reduce temperatures as soon as staff complain that
working conditions are beginning to become uncomfortable or as soon as
it is known that temperatures are going to become uncomfortable,
according to the weather forecast. If in doubt, 26 C should be used as
the trigger for these measures.' The union warns 'that, in schools,
other steps may need to be considered such as closing classrooms which
are unacceptably hot and teaching classes elsewhere, or even sending
pupils home, provided reasonable notice has been given to parents.' It
says NUT safety reps should raise temperature related concerns 'as a
matter of urgency' with school management.