Workplace Temperatures: Is It Too Hot or Too Cold to Work?
Whether you're working in an office, warehouse, construction site or from another workplace, uncomfortable temperatures can affect health, wellbeing and productivity. During periods of extreme weather, employees often ask whether there is a legal temperature at which work must stop.
The short answer is that UK law does not set a maximum workplace temperature. However, employers still have legal duties to ensure employees can work in conditions that are safe and reasonably comfortable.
What Does the Law Say About Workplace Temperatures?
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to provide a reasonable temperature in indoor workplaces during working hours.
What is considered "reasonable" will depend on factors such as:
- The type of work being carried out
- The physical demands of the role
- Whether work is carried out indoors or outdoors
- The level of ventilation available
- Humidity and air movement
- Any clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) employees are required to wear
Employers also have wider duties under health and safety legislation to assess workplace risks and take reasonable steps to protect employees from hazards caused by excessive heat or cold.
Is There a Minimum Workplace Temperature?
Although there is no absolute legal minimum temperature, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance states that indoor workplaces should normally be maintained at:
- At least 16°C for most indoor work; or
- At least 13°C where the work involves rigorous physical effort.
These figures are guidance rather than strict legal limits, but they are widely used as benchmarks when assessing whether a workplace temperature is reasonable.
If temperatures fall below these levels, employers should consider additional measures such as:
- Providing adequate heating
- Supplying suitable protective clothing
- Allowing more frequent breaks
- Adjusting working practices where appropriate
Is There a Maximum Workplace Temperature?
No. UK law does not prescribe a maximum workplace temperature.
The HSE's position is that no single maximum temperature would be suitable for every workplace. For example, temperatures that may be acceptable in a bakery, foundry or commercial kitchen could be unsuitable in an office environment.
However, employers are still required to manage the risks associated with high temperatures. If employees are becoming uncomfortably hot or are at risk of heat-related illness, employers should take reasonable steps to reduce those risks.
What Is Thermal Comfort?
The HSE now places significant emphasis on "thermal comfort" rather than focusing solely on air temperature.
Thermal comfort refers to whether people feel too hot or too cold in their working environment. It is influenced by several factors, including:
- Air temperature
- Humidity levels
- Air movement and ventilation
- Heat generated by equipment or sunlight
- The type of clothing being worn
- The physical intensity of the work being performed
A workplace may therefore feel uncomfortable even when the thermometer reading appears reasonable.
What Should Employers Do During Hot Weather?
When temperatures rise, employers should carry out or review risk assessments and consider measures such as:
- Improving ventilation
- Providing fans or cooling equipment where appropriate
- Allowing access to drinking water
- Relaxing dress code requirements where possible
- Adjusting working hours to avoid the hottest part of the day
- Providing additional rest breaks
- Monitoring employees who may be particularly vulnerable to heat
Particular care may be required for employees who are pregnant, have underlying health conditions or are required to wear extensive PPE.
What About Employees Working Outdoors?
Employers also have duties towards employees who work outdoors.
Workers exposed to extreme heat, cold, wind, rain or direct sunlight may face additional risks.
Employers should assess those risks and consider measures such as:
- Providing suitable protective clothing
- Ensuring access to drinking water
- Creating shaded or sheltered rest areas
- Rotating tasks where possible
- Adjusting work schedules during severe weather conditions
There is no specific temperature at which outdoor work must cease, but employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers from foreseeable risks.
Can Employees Refuse to Work If It Is Too Hot or Too Cold?
Employees should raise concerns with their employer if workplace temperatures become uncomfortable or potentially unsafe.
In some circumstances, employees may have legal protection if they reasonably believe there is a serious and imminent danger to their health or safety. Whether those protections apply will depend on the particular facts of each case and specialist legal advice should be sought if a dispute arises.
Final Thoughts
There is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK and no fixed temperature at which employees must be sent home. However, employers are legally required to provide a reasonable working environment and to assess and manage risks associated with excessive heat or cold.
Rather than focusing solely on the temperature shown on a thermometer, employers should consider the broader issue of thermal comfort and take practical steps to ensure employees can work safely and comfortably throughout the year.
If you are unsure about your rights as an employee or employer please get in touch with our Civil Litigation team today who will be able to provide you with expert legal advice that is tailored to you.
*PLEASE NOTE* This is intended as general information and expert advice must be sought by the reader before committing to a decision. We cannot be held responsible for any financial losses as a result of not doing so.
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