During the summer months temperatures often rise across the country, during this time you should remember what your rights are and what reasonable Health and Safety precautions you must take. In offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable.
There’s no law for maximum working temperature, or when it’s too hot to work.
Employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:
- keeping the temperature at a comfortable level, sometimes known as thermal comfort
- providing clean and fresh air
There are six basic factors which usually cause discomfort. Employees should talk to their employer if the workplace temperature isn’t comfortable.
Read about what you can do to feel more comfortable.
If your job involves extreme temperatures
In some workplaces extreme temperatures are not seasonal but are created by the work, like in some manufacturing processes. These temperatures can lead to serious health effects if not managed effectively.
You should seek specific advice on temperature if you are working in very high or low temperatures, for example on heat stress, dehydration or cold stress.
For more information check out the HSE website or consult your local Health and Safety organisations.
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