The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess changing risks and adapt work accordingly.
Due to the increasingly dry and hot conditions, several regions across England and Wales have alerts in relation to risk to life in respect of wildfires. We would advise our members if in doubt to Stop, Assess, and Protect. If you believe your work presents a risk because of wildfire, smoke or related conditions, raise this immediately with your manager. Employers have a legal duty to reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
No one should feel pressured to undertake work that is unsafe. No piece of work or target is worth risking someone’s life.
Protect staff
Managers should review all community-based work and ensure no member of staff is expected to travel into an affected area unless it is demonstrably safe. Reasonable adjustments should be made for vulnerable staff where necessary.
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Dynamic risk assessments - review wildfire, extreme heat and smoke risks. Do not rely solely on generic risk assessments.
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Check before travel - Review local Fire and Rescue Service advice, road closures and access restrictions before commencing visits to other offices, home visits, prison visits etc.
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Review Unpaid Work - Reassess outdoor projects where heat, wildfire, smoke or travel creates risk
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Treat smoke as a workplace hazard - Consider air quality, ventilation and individual vulnerability, not just distance from the flames
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Protect vulnerable staff - Make appropriate adjustments for anyone susceptible to heat or poor air quality
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Do not wait for a fire - Risk assessment is preventative. Adapt, relocate, postpone or stop work where conditions are unsafe.
Mental wellbeing
Wildfires can increase anxiety for both staff and service users. Managers should check in regularly and encourage concerns to be raised early.
The fire service is advising people to avoid the affected area where possible and keep windows and doors closed if impacted by smoke. Although the fire is reported to be stabilising, conditions can change rapidly.
Key actions for H&S Reps
Ask management to undertake an immediate dynamic risk assessment covering:
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Travel risks and road closures.
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Home visits, Prison visits, Unpaid Work, Accredited Programmes and Approved Premises Visits etc.
- Lone working.
- Vulnerable staff (e.g. asthma, heart conditions, pregnancy, immunocompromised staff).
- Smoke and air quality.
Key questions
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Can staff work from home where smoke or travel risks are significant?
- Which appointments can safely be postponed or moved online?
- Should outdoor Unpaid Work or non-essential travel be suspended?
- Is office ventilation adequate, with contingency plans for evacuation if needed?
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How will staff be kept informed as conditions change?
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Are business continuity plans robust enough?
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What will trigger changes to working arrangements?