Posted By Alias Hi all, I know the ACoPs/Guidance to the welfare regs set 16 degress as the minimal temperature, 13 where there is significant physical effort but I had heard from a very competend source (or at least I thought he was) that this legal minimum was being abolished yet I can't find a shread of evidence to say that is the case, anybody else heard this? Thanks in advance.

Posted By Richard Sutherland I've heard quite the contrary recently with talk of a maximum temperature, or at least a guideline, likely to come in to play. There are so many incidents involving persons succumbing to excessive heat in the workplace and the welfare regulations sections on ventilation, rest areas and drinking water seem to be quite commonly flouted.

Posted By Lumpy Have a look at the workplace regs re temperature. "reasonable" ? The 13 & 16 degree will still apply in certain industries (still covered by Factories Act etc). However, regardless of this you should, as previously stated, conduct a risk assessement, taking into consideration the work undertaken and the working environement. The temperature should be "reasonable" for the work. Some of our offices get up to 30 degrees during the summer, and that may be reasonable for that working environment, however on our shop floor where our employees undertake heavy engineering 30 degrees could become a problem. We allow individuals to come in earlyier and go home earlier if the weather is hot, and we also allow them to take "cool down" breaks.