Too Hot To Work ?

When the temperature soars, it’s not just uncomfortable – it can be dangerous. Every summer up and down the country, there are workers who have suffered accidents caused by extreme heat in the workplace.

If you’ve been wondering whether it's too hot to work, or whether your employer is legally required to act during a heatwave – read on.

Is There a Maximum Legal Temperature for Work?

The law in the UK doesn’t currently set a maximum working temperature – but that doesn’t mean employers can ignore the risks.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, your employer has a duty to ensure your working environment is “safe, without risks to health”.

In addition, Regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states that the temperature inside workplaces must be “reasonable” during working hours.

So what is “reasonable”? The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggests:

• For offices and sedentary work: around 16°C minimum

• For work involving physical effort: minimum of 13°C

But in a heatwave, the focus shifts to the upper end of the scale. Once indoor temperatures reach 24°C and above, performance and concentration can start to deteriorate – and accidents become more likely.

How Heat Can Cause Accidents at Work

It’s not just about feeling sweaty or uncomfortable. High temperatures can lead to:

• Dehydration

• Dizziness or fainting

• Reduced concentration and slower reactions

• Irritability or disorientation

In safety-critical jobs – whether you're operating machinery, working at height, or even driving – these effects can have serious consequences.

Can You Refuse to Work If It's Too Hot?

Yes – in some circumstances.

If your working conditions are dangerous, you have the right to refuse to work under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

This protection covers you if:

• You genuinely believe there’s a serious and imminent danger to health or safety

• You raise it with your employer or manager

• You remove yourself from the danger in a proportionate way

What Should Employers Be Doing in Hot Weather?

Good employers will take reasonable steps to manage heat, including:

• Providing fans or air conditioning

• Allowing flexible start/finish times

• Encouraging regular water breaks

• Relaxing strict dress codes (where safe)

• Increasing rest breaks

• Carrying out risk assessments based on the weather

Think You Have a Claim?

If you've been injured because your employer failed to manage hot working conditions – whether due to a colleague's heat-related error or your own heat-related accident – you may have a valid personal injury claim.

At Inson Legal, we work on a No Win No Fee basis and understand how sudden workplace injuries can throw your life off course.

📞 Call Chris Hutchinson today on 01204 263147
💻 Or visit www.insonlegal.co.uk to start your claim

Summary: Know Your Rights When It’s Too Hot to Work

• There’s no set legal maximum temperature, but conditions must be safe

• Employers must manage heat-related risks under health and safety laws

• You can refuse to work in dangerous heat – legally

• Disorientation or heat exhaustion in a colleague can still lead to employer liability

• You may have a compensation claim if you've been hurt due to heat-related failures at work