There is no legal minimum or maximum temperature for safe working in the United Kingdom. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on the temperature at which work should be carried out.
The HSE recommends that the temperature in a workplace should be at least 16°C, or 13°C if the work is physically demanding. The HSE also recommends that the temperature in a workplace should not exceed 30°C.
Employers have a duty to ensure that the temperature in their workplace is reasonable and does not pose a risk to the health and safety of their employees. This means that employers should assess the risks associated with working in extreme temperatures and take steps to control them.
Some of the steps that employers can take to control the temperature in their workplace include:
- Providing ventilation and air conditioning
- Providing employees with access to drinking water
- Adjusting working hours to avoid working in extreme temperatures
- Providing employees with shade and shelter from the sun
- Providing employees with appropriate clothing and footwear
If you are concerned about the temperature in your workplace, you should talk to your employer. Your employer should be able to assess the risks and take steps to control them.
If your employer is not taking steps to control the temperature in the workplace and you are feeling unwell, you should go home from work. You should also report the matter to the HSE.
For more information visit the HSE website.
