Health and safety advice – temperatures in the workplace
Some buildings, offices, factories and other work environments can be hotter or colder than others, which can in some cases make the people who work in them uncomfortable, stressed or even ill.
The guidance of Regulation 7 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, rules which you will learn more about on a health and safety training course, state that:
“During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.”
This doesn’t give employers, or indeed employees, a very clear idea of what temperature their workplace should be. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that workplaces be kept at a minimum temperature of 16°C. If the work being carried out is physical, the minimum temperature should be at least 13°C.
The correct temperature also depends on the nature of the workplace. So, if you run a cold store or a bakery, which tend to have very cold and very hot temperatures respectively, you should seek more in-depth guidance on workplace temperatures.
Another good idea is to carry out a survey among your employees, to find out whether they are happy with the temperatures in the workplace.