New heatwave working guidelines for tradies under review

Unions are pushing for a legal maximum of 27°C cut-off point for trades such as scaffolders, roofers, brickies, carpenters, and painters and decorators

Under proposals developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), tradespeople could soon have the right to stop work.

Under the plans, designed to protect manual workers from heat stress, employers will have to carry out ‘assessments’ when temperatures hit a certain level.

Business owners will also have to provide more frequent breaks, access to shade and drinking water.

Unions are pushing for a legal maximum of 27°C [Celsius] cut-off point for high-risk manual labourers, such as scaffolders, roofers, bricklayers, carpenters, and painters and decorators, The Telegraph reported.

The industry regulator has said a safe minimum temperature should be established as it amends an approved code of practice for working conditions, first created in 1992.

However, they are not expected to implement a specific legal maximum, according to The Sun.

Rob Miguel, the health and safety adviser at the Unite Union, emphasised the importance of updating health and safety laws and called on the government to act quickly.

The article said that some businesses are arguing that the legislation will worsen productivity and further burden their operations.

Business owners have also questioned the proposals for a legal maximum temperature, saying it could mean yet more red tape.