When temperatures rise, working in a warehouse, yard or HGV can become uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Heat can cause dehydration, tiredness, dizziness and heat exhaustion, and in severe cases can lead to heatstroke.
This guide gives some simple steps to help you and your staff stay safe during hot weather.
1. Drink plenty of water
Don’t wait until you feel thirsty before drinking.
- Drink water regularly throughout your shift
- Keep a bottle of water with you where it is safe and practical to do so
- Take regular drinks rather than waiting for breaks
- If you are sweating heavily, you may need to drink more frequently
- Avoid relying on energy drinks, coffee or other caffeinated drinks to keep you hydrated.
Employers should make sure workers have easy access to cool drinking water.
2. Take your breaks
Breaks become especially important during hot weather.
- Use your breaks to get somewhere cooler where possible
- Don’t skip breaks to get a job finished
- If your workplace has a cool or shaded area, use it
- Speak to your supervisor if you feel you need an additional break because of the heat.
Where work is particularly hot or physically demanding, employers should consider changing working arrangements to reduce the risk from heat.
3. Working in a warehouse
Warehouses can become extremely hot, particularly where there is limited ventilation, large areas of concrete or metal, or where doors and roofs allow heat to build up.
Where possible:
- Use ventilation and fans provided by your employer
- Keep doors or other openings available for ventilation where this can be done safely and securely
- Take advantage of cooler areas during breaks
- Avoid unnecessary physical exertion during the hottest part of the day
- Wear suitable, lightweight work clothing where the job and PPE requirements allow it
- Report broken fans, ventilation equipment or other problems that are making conditions excessively hot.
Do not remove or alter required PPE simply because you are hot. If PPE is making heat stress worse, raise the issue with your employer so that alternatives or additional controls can be considered.
4. Working in a HGV or lorry
A cab can heat up very quickly in direct sunlight, even when the outside temperature does not seem particularly high.
Remember to:
- Use the vehicle’s air conditioning or ventilation where available
- Allow the cab to cool down before setting off if it has become excessively hot
- Keep hydrated during driving and loading/unloading
- Never leave yourself without access to drinking water
- Be particularly careful when getting out of an air-conditioned cab into a very hot yard or warehouse
- Take appropriate breaks and use them to cool down
- Check that air conditioning and ventilation systems are working properly and report faults.
Never compromise road safety to deal with the heat. Stay focused while driving and take a safe break if you become too hot, dizzy, tired or unwell.
5. Loading and unloading
Physical work becomes harder in hot weather, so if you are loading or unloading vehicles make sure that you:
- Drink regularly
- Take your authorised breaks
- Pace yourself rather than trying to work at maximum speed throughout the shift
- Use mechanical handling equipment where it is provided appropriate, and safe to do so
- Take extra care when working in direct sunlight or poorly ventilated areas
- Tell your supervisor if the heat is affecting your ability to work safely.
Heavy lifting and strenuous work can increase the risk of overheating, so employers should consider whether work can be reorganised during periods of extreme heat.
6. Look out for your workmates
Heat can affect people differently, and someone who is becoming unwell may not immediately recognise what is happening.
Look out for:
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Headaches
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Nausea
- Heavy sweating
- Muscle cramps
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or unusual behaviour.
If you notice these signs in yourself or a colleague, stop and take the situation seriously.
Move to a cooler area, drink water and tell your supervisor or first aider.
7. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Heat exhaustion
Symptoms can include:
- Heavy sweating
- Pale or clammy skin
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Thirst
- Muscle cramps.
The person should be moved somewhere cool, given water to drink if they are able to do so, and allowed to rest.
Heatstroke – an emergency
Heatstroke is much more serious and warning signs can include:
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Very hot skin
- Behaviour or speech that seems abnormal
- A very high body temperature.
Call 999 if you suspect heatstroke.
Move the person somewhere cool and begin cooling them while waiting for emergency help. Do not leave them alone.
8. What should employers consider?
Keeping workers safe in hot weather isn’t simply a matter of telling people to “drink more water”.
As an employer you should also consider:
- Providing cool drinking water close to workers
- Providing suitable rest areas away from excessive heat
- Improving ventilation and air movement
- Maintaining air conditioning and ventilation systems
- Reducing unnecessary physical exertion
- Changing working patterns where appropriate
- Considering whether strenuous work can be carried out during cooler parts of the day
- Reviewing PPE requirements and whether suitable alternatives are available
- Providing information and training on the signs of heat stress
- Considering individual workers who may be more vulnerable to heat
- Carrying out a suitable risk assessment when temperatures become excessive.
9. Don’t suffer in silence
If the heat is making it difficult to work safely, raise it with your supervisor, manager or health & safety representative.
Key points to remember
- Water
- Breaks
- Shade
- Cool air
- Look out for each other.
Photo by Kampus Production
