Safe Systems of Work

When a heatwave hits or the heating fails in winter, one question comes up again and again: is there a legal temperature at which staff can stop work? The answer is not as simple as a single number, and the rules are often misunderstood. Knowing what the law actually expects of you helps you keep employees safe and comfortable while staying on the right side of your health and safety duties.

It is a question worth getting right, because temperature affects far more than comfort. Staff working in conditions that are too hot or too cold are more prone to mistakes, accidents and ill health, so managing it well is both a legal duty and a sensible step for productivity.

Is there a legal minimum or maximum temperature?

There is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK, and no fixed figure at which work must automatically stop. This surprises many people, but it reflects the fact that a comfortable temperature in an office is very different from one on a busy kitchen line or a warehouse.

For a minimum, the Approved Code of Practice suggests at least 16 degrees Celsius in most workplaces, or around 13 degrees where the work involves rigorous physical effort. These are guideline figures rather than hard legal limits, which is why your wider duty to protect employees matters more than any single temperature on a thermometer.

What the law actually requires

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers must keep the temperature in indoor workplaces at a reasonable level and provide a working environment that is safe and comfortable. What counts as reasonable depends on the work and the setting, so the practical test is whether you have assessed the risk and taken sensible steps to manage it.

During spells of extreme heat or cold, a simple risk assessment helps you decide what action is needed for your particular workplace and workforce. It does not need to be complicated, but it should consider the type of work, who is doing it and what reasonable measures will keep people safe and reasonably comfortable.

Keeping a brief record of what you considered and what you put in place is good practice, and it demonstrates that you have taken the issue seriously if a concern is ever raised. It is also worth listening to staff, who will usually tell you quickly when an area is uncomfortably hot or cold, and treating that feedback as a useful early warning rather than a complaint.

Managing hot working conditions

When temperatures climb, a few practical measures make a real difference to comfort and safety:

• Ventilation and shade: improve airflow, use fans or air conditioning and keep direct sun off workstations.
• Hydration: make cool drinking water easy to access and encourage regular breaks to rehydrate.
• Flexible working: adjust hours, relax dress codes and rotate tasks so no one is overexposed.
• Outdoor workers: provide shade, sun protection and scheduled rest, as outdoor teams face added risks in strong sun.

Many of these steps cost little and can be put in place quickly, which matters when a heatwave arrives with little warning. Having a plan ready in advance means you are not improvising on the hottest day of the year.

Cold conditions and vulnerable workers

Cold environments deserve the same attention, with adequate heating, suitable clothing and breaks in warm areas where work cannot be moved indoors. Cold can be easy to overlook in a workplace that is only occasionally chilly, but it carries genuine risks for tasks that require dexterity or concentration.

It is also worth remembering that some employees, including those who are pregnant, older or managing a health condition, may feel temperature extremes more acutely and may need reasonable adjustments. Factoring them into your planning is both good practice and part of your duty of care, and a brief conversation is often all it takes to understand what someone needs.

Getting workplace temperature right is less about chasing a magic number and more about sensible, well-documented risk management. The Health & Safety Dept helps employers assess these risks and put practical temperature measures in place, so your team stays safe and comfortable whatever the season, and your business stays compliant.