Working in the summer in extremely high temperatures is generally not pleasant, either for workers who are outdoors (e.g. at construction sites, road repairs or on the road) or those who are indoors. Due to the high temperatures, the human body shows a much lower ability to concentrate and a decidedly poorer efficiency at work, and is subject to general weakness, rapid dehydration and many unpleasant reactions bordering on sunstroke. It is up to the employer to ensure that employees have the right working conditions, regardless of the weather outside. How to protect employees' health in the heat to avoid unpleasant consequences?
Provide employees with access to drinkable water and cold drinks
According to the Ordinance of the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy of September 26, 1997 on general regulations of occupational safety and health, employees should have access to drinkable water in their work environment, at a distance of no more than 75 meters from the workplace. In hot weather, however, drinkable water alone may not be sufficient, so the employer should provide its employees with free and continuous access to cold drinks. This obligation is regulated by law depending on the type of work performed - for office workers, access to cold drinks is mandatory when the temperature exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, while manual workers when the temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius.
Importantly, cold drinks should be available throughout the shift, in an amount that meets the needs of all employees, and the temperature of the drinks themselves should be maintained at a level that provides immediate refreshment and cools the body to a safe temperature without causing internal thermal shock or exposing employees to the cold. It is worth noting that if an employer fails to make cold drinks available to his employees in hot weather, he faces a fine ranging from PLN 1,000 to as much as PLN 30,000, according to Article 283 § 1 of the Labor Code.
Create space for employee showers
The obligation to provide access to water for washing applies to blue-collar workers performing work in the open and informs them that they must create access to showers no further than 75 meters from the workplace. Such individuals should be able to cool down not only after the end of the working day, but also during breaks, which, in the case of hot weather, it is advisable to organize more often for the safety and health of employees.
Guarantee employees an adequate amount of breaks from work
The employer is not formally obliged to exempt his employees from the working day due to the high temperature, but by law an employee has the right to interrupt work on his own initiative. According to the Labor Code, he has this right when continuing work could endanger his health or life. The employer must, of course, be informed of the desire to leave the workplace. The latter, in order to avoid a situation in which employees refuse to work due to the prevailing weather conditions, should do everything possible to provide them with the best possible working conditions, proposing, among other things, to increase the number of statutory breaks from work during the day. Breaks can be slightly shortened compared to the traditional break, but thus staggered and regular enough for employees to find a respite in the shade before returning to a sunny position.
Take care of conditions at workstations
In the case of office or indoor work, the employer may (but need not) opt to install air conditioning and additional ventilation equipment to facilitate the work of his subordinates, but once in place he must commit to regular maintenance of the equipment. Office workstations themselves should be protected from excessive sunlight and uncontrolled heat emission due to radiation by using appropriate adjustable blinds and shades.
What to pay attention to during hot weather?
Employers who want to provide their employees with the most comfortable working conditions and meet all legal requirements for creating safe workplaces should be particularly sensitive to the heat and the problems it can cause at individual workplaces. Ensuring that employees have access to cold drinks, showers, more frequent breaks from work or protection from direct sunlight in the form of head protection (for outdoor workers) or blinds on windows and air conditioning (for office workers) is key to a safe work environment.
Working in high temperatures without replenishing adequate fluids can lead to dehydration and electrolyte loss, which can in turn lead to heat stroke, exhaustion, confusion and even fainting. If heatstroke is suspected, an ambulance should be called as soon as possible, and first aid should be administered to the victims. The employer should provide additional first aid training for the occasion and make sure to have cold packs, cooling drinks and moistened, cool towels on hand to help lower the body temperature.
