Posted: Tuesday 21 December 2010
Minimum (And Maximum) Working Temperatures
I have just come in on the bus and it is seriously cold outside (about -12 degree celsius here in Edinburgh at the moment although it is due to rise to about -4 for most of the day!).
I am asked from time to time what the legal temperature limits are for inside working conditions.
The following link to the Health and Safety Executive website provides guidance on this area:-
What Is The Maximum/Minimum Temperature In The Workplace
As you will see the obligation on an employer is to ensure that the temperature is reasonable which at the cold end of the spectrum will generally mean a minimum of 16 degrees celsius indoors or 13 degrees celsius where the working involves “severe physical effort”.
At the other end of the scale you will see that there is no specific maximum temperature stated and I recall that this is something that certain unions have lobbied for in the past.
Wrap up warm!
