The law on working in hot temperatures
The law on working in hot temperatures (when is it too hot to clock in?)
It doesn’t happen often, let’s face it, it’s Cumbria after all… But when the sun does come out, your employees might ask: Is there a legal maximum temperature for working in hot temperatures? It’s a common question, especially if you work outdoors, in factories, or in hot and stuffy offices.
Is there actually a legal maximum temperature?
In the UK, there’s no legal maximum temperature for workplaces. The law doesn’t give a fixed number where it’s “too hot to work.” Instead, it’s employers who have a duty to keep conditions reasonable for staff, which includes managing heat.
Minimum temperatures are suggested (16 °C for normal work, 13 °C for physical work) but there’s no set upper limit. That doesn’t mean employers can ignore heat though. It means they have to think carefully about the risks and take action to minimise them.
What do employers need to do?
If working in hot temperatures is making people feel unwell, dizzy, dehydrated, or unable to focus, employers really need to do something about it. They’re required by law to assess risks and reduce them as much as possible.
Practical steps can include:
- Providing cool drinking water
- Improving ventilation or air conditioning
- Relaxing dress codes where it’s safe to do so
- Scheduling work to avoid the hottest part of the day
- Giving more frequent breaks
This is especially important for outdoor work in strong, hot sun, where heat and UV exposure can cause real health risks.
So when is it too hot to clock in?
The legal answer is, it’s too hot to work when conditions have become unsafe. Employers must assess the risks to staff of working in hot temperatures and control them. If they can’t reduce the risks to a safe level, they need to change the work or even stop it altogether.
The law is designed to keep people healthy, not to set one rule for every workplace. If you’re worried about working in hot temperatures, speak to your manager or health and safety rep. They’ve got a legal responsibility to listen and make sure you’re safe, whatever the weather.
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