The absence of a maximum figure is due to the fact that some workplaces are expected to operate at high temperatures all year round, like glass works or foundries for example. Therefore, an office where people are largely stationary would have a higher temperature requirement than a factory floor with lots of heat-generating equipment and physical activity.Įmployers should aim to keep the temperature at around 16☌ or a slightly cooler 13☌ if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort. It is down to the employer to decide what is a comfortable and sensible temperature for their workplace based on what staff are doing and what equipment is operating. Generally, workrooms should be at least 16° but this isn’t a set in stone figure. The equipment in use around the workplace is another factor. The nature of the work being done is one example. Under the regulations, there is no specific figure given for minimum or maximum temperatures because there are lots of factors that can come into it. HSE recommends that employers should aim for 80% of staff to be at a comfortable temperature. Weight, age and sex of the person play a part, as does the work they are doing. Overall, there are lots of factors that come into how temperature affects people. The process is slightly different if you have staff working outdoors. This looks at the possible risks and hazards within the property including the upper and lower temperatures and covers what needs to be done to combat this. Keep the temperature at a comfortable levelĪnother key point of the law is that employers need to have a risk assessment for health and safety.This means that at the very least, you are required to: ‘During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.’ Regulation 7 deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that: The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment. What does the law say about working temperatures? You may be familiar with all of the health and safety rules and regulations you need to adhere to, but how much do you really know about workplace temperature rules and regulations in the UK?Īs a leading provider of commercial air conditioning in Bristol and across the South West, here are some basic guidelines for you to consider: ![]() If your office is like a furnace in the summer and an ice box in the winter, you could be breaching government recommendations that are designed to keep your workforce safe and comfortable while they work.Īs an employer it is your duty to ensure that your workspace offers the optimal environment for your employees and to ensure their ongoing wellbeing. The purpose of this webpage is to give workers and employers useful, up-to-date information to identify, correct, and prevent IAQ problems.A Guide To Workplace Temperature Rules And Regulations The following States have Indoor Air regulations: The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act (the law that created OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury. OSHA's letters of interpretation specifically addressing IAQ issues can be found in Other Resources. OSHA responds to questions about standards with letters of interpretation. Although OSHA does not have IAQ standards, it does have standards about ventilation and standards on some of the air contaminants that can be involved in IAQ problems. The right ventilation and building care can prevent and fix IAQ problems. Sometimes, specific contaminants like dust from construction or renovation, mold, cleaning supplies, pesticides, or other airborne chemicals (including small amounts of chemicals released as a gas over time) may cause poor IAQ. These factors include poor ventilation (lack of outside air), problems controlling temperature, high or low humidity, recent remodeling, and other activities in or near a building that can affect the fresh air coming into the building. ![]() In addition, some exposures, such as asbestos and radon, do not cause immediate symptoms but can lead to cancer after many years. Also, some specific diseases have been linked to specific air contaminants or indoor environments, like asthma with damp indoor environments. ![]() Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been tied to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The quality of indoor air inside offices, schools, and other workplaces is important not only for workers' comfort but also for their health.
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