The mercury scarcely hits 30 degrees Celsius in the UK, but as summer approaches, it’s down to employers to make sure working conditions are just right for workers, according to one of the UK’s most prolific suppliers of a whole range of materials handling equipment, such as pallet trucks and platform lifts.
PalletTrucksUK, which has a long history of supplying equipment to a whole host of businesses, knows first-hand what impact the weather can have on a business, and according to the managing director, it’s down to business leaders to take the lead and ensure conditions are constant – before the sun hits its peak.
Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at PalletTrucksUK, said, “Although it’s important all year round to think about working conditions and temperatures, in the summer this is even more important. It is often easier to warm up a workplace than it is to cool one down, so getting it right from the offset is imperative.
“Overheated workers are less productive, irritable, and at risk of dehydration and illness – which can cause serious damage to individuals and the business. So investing wisely in the right equipment is something employers should think about sooner – rather than later.”
There is no law surrounding workplace temperatures in the UK. Left entirely at employees’ discretion, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 does lay down particular requirements for many aspects of the working environment. Regulation 7 deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that ‘during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.’ Highlighting fluid guidelines, it does provide employers with a sense of control, while protecting workers from impractical temperatures.
Air conditioning systems are often the number one choice for employers who operate warehouses and other buildings that get warm easily. Ensuring a workplace has good ventilation can also help significantly. However one of the best ways to ensure workers don’t overheat in the summer is to provide robust equipment that they can rely on. Cutting down on the amount energy used to carry out manual tasks, reliable equipment can prevent workers from overheating when British summer time is at its peak.
PalletTrucksUK has one of the largest ranges of equipment available to purchase online. Ideal for a range of businesses in varying sectors, reliable equipment can make a huge difference to a business all year round – not just in the summer months.
