With soaring temperatures predicted for the coming days, it’s crucial for parents and employees to understand their rights regarding children’s schooling and workplace attendance during extreme heat.
For parents, schools generally have a duty of care to ensure the safety and well-being of students. While specific policies can vary by region and individual school, many will have protocols in place for managing hot weather. This might include ensuring classrooms are adequately ventilated, providing access to water, and potentially modifying the school day or recommending that children stay home if conditions become unbearable or pose a health risk. The decision to keep a child home due to heat often falls under the umbrella of parental responsibility for a child’s health and safety. It’s advisable for parents to check their school’s official policy on extreme weather conditions and communicate any concerns directly with the school administration.
In the workplace, employers also have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment. This generally extends to ensuring temperatures are within a reasonable and safe limit. While there isn’t always a specific legal maximum temperature for all workplaces, employers must take steps to mitigate risks associated with high heat, such as providing ventilation, cooling facilities, limiting strenuous activity, and offering regular breaks. For many roles, refusing to work solely due to a heatwave, without a documented health condition exacerbated by the heat or a clear breach of safety regulations by the employer, may not be automatically protected. However, if the workplace becomes dangerously hot and the employer fails to implement adequate safety measures, employees may have grounds to raise concerns or refuse to work under health and safety legislation. Seeking clarification from HR or relevant worker representation is recommended in such situations.
