Every time the weather turns cold someone is bound to mention minimum and maximum temperatures.
The fact is though that they are an urban myth – the law does not set maximum and minimum temperatures.
As an employer you have to ensure that the workplace is adequately thermally insulated where it is necessary, having regard to the type of work carried out and the physical activity of the persons carrying out the work; ensure that the excessive effect of sunlight on temperature is avoided and ensure you have a sufficient number of thermometers shall be provided to enable persons at work to determine the temperature in any workplace inside a building.
You have to ensure that you do not use method of heating or cooling which results in the escape into a workplace of fumes, gas or vapour of such character and to such extent that they are likely to be injurious or offensive to any person.
Therefore it is important to ensure temperatures are reasonable which will depend on many factors including type of building, layout of building, location of doors and windows, type of work carried out there, type of clothing worn by employees.
If penguins and polar bears have moved in though, it’s probably too cold for the staff.
