Too hot to work?

With temperatures soaring this week, what is the maximum temperature at which we should work?

It’s getting hotter and hotter with the temperature set to rise above 34 degrees on Friday in the South East. That’s hot for the UK and very uncomfortable to work in. So, what is the maximum temperature employees should have to work under?

The simple answer is - there isn’t a maximum working temperature.

We have no upper legal limit, so we’re left with the good old fall back position - what is reasonable? Obviously in some jobs one is expected to work in higher temperatures than others, and of course those working outside will invariably work in temperature extremes.

Fortunately the Health and Safety Executive do have some guidance on this issue. They advise that the the temperature within the workplace should be maintained at a ‘comfortable level’ to provide an appropriate level of thermal comfort.