Hot working days take their toll on employees in many ways. According to Tanja Luukkanen, a Senior Advisor on Work Environment and Equality Affairs at the Trade Union Pro, the effects of the heat are not always adequately recognised in the workplace.
- Heat increases fatigue, impairs concentration and raises the risk of errors and accidents. It puts a strain on both the body and the brain, says Luukkanen.
Recent studies by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health show that the level of strain cannot be assessed on the basis of temperature alone. The physical demands of the work also have a significant impact on how quickly the body becomes strained and how much time is needed for recovery.
The employer is responsible for ensuring safe working conditions
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers must ensure the health and safety of their employees, even in hot weather. In practice, this means, amongst other things, controlling the temperature, organising adequate breaks and reducing the workload.
– Even in office work, temperatures can rise to levels that are harmful to health. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that heat stress does not jeopardise employees’ wellbeing, Luukkanen points out.
Heat also impairs specialist work
Although the new recommendations relate specifically to physical work, heat also affects light and cognitively demanding work. There is less research data on these effects, but they are clearly evident in the workplace.
– Heat slows down thinking, impairs concentration and increases the risk of errors. The effects can quickly become apparent in the quality of work, even if the work is not physically demanding, says Luukkanen.
Heat stress is an occupational health and safety issue
The most common symptoms of heat stress are fatigue, headaches, dizziness and weakness. Furthermore, high temperatures increase the risk of dehydration and place a strain on the cardiovascular system.
Employees can reduce this strain by ensuring they stay properly hydrated and taking breaks at regular intervals. It is also important to inform a chef if the heat begins to affect their ability to cope at work.
– Heat stress is an occupational safety issue just like any other risk in the working environment. Its effects should not be underestimated, Luukkanen emphasises.
Heatwaves have become more common in Finland in recent years, which is why preparing for the heat has become an increasingly important part of everyday life in the workplace.
New, stricter guidelines on the organisation of work and breaks for hot-weather work
According to new research, heat stress accumulates to a greater extent than previously estimated during strenuous work in hot conditions. Consequently, the new guidelines take into account both temperature and the intensity of the work, which means shorter work periods and longer breaks for those working in hot conditions. Read more on the Finnish Work Environment Fund’s website (in Finnish).
Employees’ exposure to heat must be limited
Working in the heat during the summer can put a strain on the body, impair performance and increase the risk of illness and accidents at work, even for employees in good health.