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The recent
heat-wave brought with it the usual number of enquiries from Branch members
regarding a legal maximum temperature at work. In the cold months of course the
questions are about minimum temperature and draughty conditions.
Dave Joyce, Chair of the NEC Health, Safety and Environment Committee
explains that the appropriate legislation is Regulation 7 of the Workplace
(Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the associated Approved Code of
Practice (ACOP).
Employers must ensure that during working hours the temperature in all
workplaces inside buildings is reasonable. This means providing reasonable
comfort without the need for special clothing.
With regards to minimum temperature, the Approved Code of Practice states that
work rooms should normally be 16ºC for most types of work and at least 13ºC for
work involving considerable physical effort. Therefore in the Office environment
16ºC should be the minimum.
On the other hand although a maximum temperature is not
specified in the Regulations, for most kinds of work the acceptable
zone of thermal comfort lies between 16ºC and 24ºC. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) recommends that the maximum Air Temperature should be 25ºC
and CWU Safety Representatives can use these figures when they discuss standards
with local management. The Approved Code Of Practice does however state that
Employers must take all reasonable steps to achieve a comfortable temperature
including insulating hot pipes and equipment, providing air cooling plants,
shading windows, siting work stations away from hot areas and using fans and
increased ventilation in hot weather.
Other factors such as draughts and humidity must also be considered when aiming
for a comfortable temperature and the Approved Code Of Practice is quite clear
that workers should not be exposed to draughts.
Regulation 7 also states that a sufficient number of thermometers must also be
provided to enable workers to check temperatures in indoor workplaces.
Only as a last resort in unavoidable hot or cold areas should employers provide
suitable protective clothing and facilities to limit the amount of time
individuals work in these areas. This however would not apply to Office
environments and would apply mainly to specialist Workplaces e.g. Cold Stores
and Blast Furnaces etc.
Outdoor workers have to be provided with suitable warm clothing designed to
protect against adverse weather conditions under the Personal Protective
Equipment Regulations 1992.
End.
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