FOI 25-176 Working in Extreme Heat

Freedom of Information Request

Reference

FOI 25-176 Working in Extreme Heat

Request Date

14 Apr 2025

Response Date

17 Apr 2025

Information Requested

I am writing to make a freedom of information request about any policy, procedure or internal guidance your service
has regarding operating in extreme heat, specifically for your employees' wellbeing. As per HSE, each service will
have its own definition of what specific temperature is considered a hazard.
If your service has such a policy, please can you forward it to me directly? If this cannot be facilitated, please could
you send me the following details:
(1) What temperature is considered by your service to be hazardous (specifically for hot weather)
(2) What controls and safety measures your service has in place to protect employees in hot weather
(3) Where vehicles do not have functional air conditioning in hazardous heat, what protective measures are made for
the employees using that vehicle and what - if any - priority is given to the vehicle's repair.
Where the policy differs by year, please could you send me the most recent policy. If you do not have a policy or
procedure for hot weather working, please could you send me the most recent agreed local support and/or guidance
for your employees working in hot weather?

Response

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) does not have a policy, procedure or internal guidance regarding
working in extreme heat. SAS works within the legislation set out by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) Temperature in the workplace: What the law says - HSE.

As per the legislation, there is no law for maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work,
because every workplace is different. The Scottish Ambulance Service has not defined what temperature
would be considered hazardous, it is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of
Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.

SAS ensures all internal workplaces e.g. contact centres, offices and vehicles are fitted with air
conditioning. Staff are encouraged to approach their line managers on any occasion where they feel
uncomfortable in the workplace and any reasonable measures should be taken.