As winter takes hold, the HSE has produced some helpful advice on keeping people as comfortable as possible when working in the cold.

The guidance has been refreshed to make it easier to find and understand advice on how to protect workers in both low and high temperatures. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace and explain how employers can assess the risks to workers and put controls in place to protect them.

It covers:

• Working in hot and cold temperatures;
• Steps you can take to make people feel more comfortable;
• Outdoor working;
• Dehydration; and
• Cold stress and heat stress.

The HSE has also created a workplace temperature checklist to help employers carry out a basic risk assessment. If you answer ‘yes’ to at least two of these questions you should assess the risks and find out how you can protect your workers.

• Have your workers complained about temperatures in your workplace?
• Does the air feel warm or hot?
• Does the workplace temperature change during a normal working day?
• Does the workplace temperature change a lot during hot or cold weather?
• Is there a heat source in the environment, for example machinery?
• Is there any equipment that produces steam?
• Is work being done outdoors?
• Are your workers wearing personal protective equipment that allows air to flow through?
• Do your workers complain that the air is too dry?
• Do your workers complain that the air is humid?
• Is cold or warm air blowing directly into the workspace?
• Are employees complaining of draughts?
• Is work rate moderate to intensive in warm or hot conditions?
• Are workers mainly seated in cool or cold environments?
• Is PPE being worn that protects against harmful toxins, chemicals, asbestos, flames, extreme heat etc?
• Can workers make changes to their clothing in response to high or low temperatures?
• Is respiratory protection being worn?

Legally in the UK, the minimum temperature for a workplace inside a building is 16oC (excluding cold rooms, fridges and freezers). If the work routinely involves physical activity, the minimum temperature is 13oC. Where a workplace is outdoors, employers must provide protection from adverse weather. Rest facilities must also be maintained at an appropriate temperature.