Workplace Temperature & The Law
Employer Responsibilities
The correct temperature control in the workplace is essential for employees' 'thermal comfort'. The Health and Safety Executive guidelines on the temperature of the workplace advise that those in charge of indoor workplaces must provide, amongst others:
- A reasonable working temperature in workrooms usually at least 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work
- Local heating or cooling where a comfortable temperature cannot be maintained throughout each work room
- Heating systems which do not give off dangerous or offensive levels of fume into the workplace
Source, www.hse.gov.uk
Optimum Temperature
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment Regulation 7 of these Regulations deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that: During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. However, the application of the regulation depends on the nature of the workplace i.e. a bakery, a cold store, an office, a warehouse.
The associated ACOP goes on to explain: ‘The temperature in workrooms should provide reasonable comfort without the need for special clothing. Where such a temperature is impractical because of hot or cold processes, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as close as possible to comfortable.
'Workroom' means a room where people normally work for more than short periods. The temperature in workrooms should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius unless much of the work involves severe physical effort in which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius. These temperatures may not, however, ensure reasonable comfort, depending on other factors such as air movement and relative humidity.’ Where the temperature in a workroom would otherwise be uncomfortably high, for example because of hot processes or the design of the building, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a reasonably comfortable temperature, for example by:
- insulating hot plants or pipes
- providing air-cooling plant
- shading windows
- siting workstations away from places subject to radiant heat.
Where a reasonably comfortable temperature cannot be achieved throughout a workroom, local cooling should be provided. In extremely hot weather fans and increased ventilation may be used instead of local cooling.
Source, www.hse.gov.uk
More Information
To find out more about thermal comfort and its importance for your employees, visit the Health and Safety Executive's microsite on the subject.
T: 01590 681 434 Fax: 01590 682 900. Registered No: 3284618 VAT No: 692579284
