Written question asked by Teresa Pearce (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 June 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 June 2011. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 June 2011 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Industrial Health and Safety: Heating

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the long-term and short-term physical and psychological effects of persistent exposure to high temperatures.

Answer: In 2009 HSE commissioned an independent review into workplace temperatures, which drew on the wide range of non-Government research available. Following this review HSE conducted a survey about temperatures in workplaces, to which 2933 completed responses were submitted. Evaluation of this and other data provided little evidence of significant numbers of illnesses, long or short term, physical or psychological, caused or exacerbated by exposure to high temperatures.

Secondary information