Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum temperature for
workplaces?
There is no legal maximum temperature for workplaces. However,
the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Workplace
Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992 requires that during
working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings
shall be reasonable. As there is no legal maximum, a judgement must
be made on an individual case basis as to what is considered
reasonable in the circumstances.
Employers are required to assess the risk to the health, safety
and welfare of their employees. This includes the effects of heat,
cold and humidity. An acceptable zone of thermal comfort for most
people in the UK will be between 13 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees
Celsius, with more strenuous work activities concentrated at the
bottom end of the range, and more sedentary activities at the
higher end of the scale.
Some ideas for ensuring thermal comfort in the warmer weather
are:-
- Provide air conditioning or air cooling equipment
- Provide fans
- Ensure windows can be opened
- Use blinds to reduce the effects of the sun
- Move workstations away from direct sunlight
- Provide additional drinking water facilities (water is
preferable to carbonated or caffeine drinks)
- Allow flexible working patterns or rotate staff in warmer
areas
- Allow sufficient breaks to allow staff to get drinks or cool
down
- Relax the dress code
If you feel that the temperature in your workplace is not
reasonable please contact the Safety, Food and Regulation Unit on
01702 318191 or by e-mail to environmental.health@rochford.gov.uk
What is the minimum temperature for
workplaces?
The Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992
requires the temperature in a workroom to be at least 16 degrees
Celsius unless much of the work involves severe physical effort in
which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees
Celsius.
Some ideas for ensuring thermal comfort in the colder weather
are:-
- Provide adequate background and local heating
- Reduce draughts
- Provide appropriate protective clothing
- Ensure work systems limit exposure to a cold environment
- Allow sufficient breaks for hot drinks and to warm up in heated
areas
If you feel that the temperature in your workplace is not
reasonable please contact the Safety, Food and Regulation Unit on
01702 318045/318160 or by e-mail to environmental.health@rochford.gov.uk
Where can I get a health and safety poster?
Health and Safety Law posters are available from HSE Books, PO
Box 1999, Suffolk, CO10 2WA Tel 01787 881165 Fax 01787 313995,
order online at: the HSE website in related links below.
Alternatively you can buy the poster from any good bookseller.
The ISBN number is: 0 71762493 5.
If your business is in the Rochford District the information
that you will be required to write onto the poster, along with your
details, is:-
Enforcing Authority: Rochford District Council
Housing, Health and Community Care Division, Council Offices, South
Street, Rochford, Essex. SS4 1BW Tel: 01702 318045/ 318160
The Employment Advisory Medical Service: Wren
House, Hedgerows Business Park, Colchester Road, Springfield,
Chelmsford CM2 5PF. Tel: 01245 706200.
How do I report an accident?
You can find information about accident reporting by going to
the page in the menu on the left hand side.
What first aid provision do I need?
The First Aid Regulations 1981, require employers to provide
adequate and appropriate first aid provision for employees. There
is no requirement to provide first aid equipment for members of
public. The leaflet, “First Aid at Work - Your Questions
Answered” gives a guide to minimum quantities of first aid
materials. The leaflet can be downloaded from related documents at
the bottom of the page.
Do I need to provide a first aider?
Unless there are 50 employees at the premises, you are not
required to provide a first aider. However you should have an
"appointed person" who is responsible for stocking the first aid
box and calling an ambulance if required.
Where there are 50 employees one first aider should be appointed
in addition to the appointed person. A guide to first aid provision
is given in the leaflet, “First Aid at Work Your Questions
Answered” The leaflet can be downloaded from related documents at
the bottom of the page.
Do I need an accident book?
If you employ 10 or more persons, at the same time, you are
legally required (under the Social Security Claims and Payments
Regulations 1979), to provide an accident book (B1510) where
employees or people acting on their behalf can enter details of
accidents leading to injury. Data Protection law requires that
personal information must be kept secure.
If you employ less than 10 people at the same time, it is
recommended that you provide an accident book in which details are
kept of all accidents which result in injury to employees, whilst
they are at work, and others.
The appropriate details to include in your accident book
are:
- Name and address of the injured person
- Date and time of the accident
- The place where the accident happened
- The cause and nature of the injury
- The name and address of the person who is recording the
accident.
You can purchase an accident book from HSE Books, PO Box 1999,
Suffolk, CO10 2WA Tel 01787 881165 Fax 01787 313995, order online
at: in related links below.
Alternatively you can buy the poster from any good bookseller.
The ISBN number is: 0 71762603 2
Other questions?
For other health and safety Frequently Asked Questions please
follow the link to the Health and Safety Executive’s site in
related links below.