With global temperatures changing, is now the time to revisit the legal temperature limit at work?

Last year the UK faced unprecedented record-breaking temperatures, forcing some businesses to temporarily shut over concerns for employee health.

Some workplaces reported temperatures as high as 40 degrees, posing the question – can it be too hot to work?

Gavin Scarr-Hall, Health and Safety Director at Peninsula says “There is currently no legal maximum workplace temperature, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 simply require the workplace temperature inside buildings to be reasonable.

“It is usually accepted that people work at their best when the temperature is between 16 and 24oC, depending on the type of work being done. The World Health Organisation recommendation for a comfortable working temperature is 24oC. However, the only specific and long-standing guidance from the Health and Safety Executive says that the minimum workplace temperature should be between 13C and 16C degrees where the work is physical. Other than saying that workplace temperatures should be ‘comfortable’ there is no guidance on maximum [acceptable] workplace temperatures.

“However, when the workplace gets too hot it is more than a comfort issue. When it gets too hot it becomes a health and safety issue. People who are too hot are at risk of dizziness, fainting, heat cramps and heat stroke. In recent times there have been many reports of workplaces where temperature as reached 40oC and over. At these extreme temperatures there is risk of heat stroke, collapse, delirium, and confusion. Blood temperatures at this level can cause irreparable organ damage.

“Working in uncomfortably high temperatures is also known to lead to loss of concentration and tiredness. Both will impact business productivity and accuracy.

“Based on scientific research the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has long been campaigning for improved regulations or statutory guidance. The unions are calling for a legal maximum temperature of 30oC for indoor work and 27oC for those doing strenuous work. Where work is outside, their call is for the current guidance on providing water, sun protection and organising work to avoid the hottest part of the day to become a specific legal requirement.

“With global temperatures increasing every year, now may be the time for the HSE and other government departments to start looking at [whether we need] [how] to bring in regulated maximum and minimum workplace temperatures.

“This cannot happen overnight, there would need to be significant consultation across all industries before changes could be introduced. Nonetheless sensible employers will recognise that temperature extremes are becoming normal and planning what they need to do to maintain comfortable workplace temperatures for their employees.”

--- ENDS ---