When is it too cold to stop working?

WINTER is here and the temperatures have often dropped to below freezing over night.

This is making commuting harder and tricky to keep your home and place of work warm.

Some nights it has dropped to minus four in Leicestershire and we have already had a sprinkling of snow in Hinckley.

As it gets colder, employers and schools are being warned to act against the wintry weather while temperatures dip below freezing.

With this in mind, we have taken a quick look at the rules on temperature in schools and the workplace...

How cold is TOO cold to be in work?

Employers must ensure the thermometer is “reasonable” inside the workplace.

According to the Workplace Regulations, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: “Employers are obliged to assess risks to health and safety – act where necessary (i.e. if the workplace drops below the minimum guideline or if it is felt the temperature is too high).”

In fact, the mercury should fall no lower than 16°C in offices.

The associated Approved Code of Practice states that employers should take action if the temperature falls below 16°C.

This can dip to 13°C in workplaces where strenuous activity is carried out, however there is no upper limit when temperatures begin to rise in the summer months.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 state: “During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.” So what are your rights? Employees should be afforded regular breaks and the chance to have a hot drink, according to guidelines .

In the advice given to handle the cold conditions, employers have been reminded it is their responsibility to provide additional heating should it get too cold.

Bosses should also do what they can to limit exposure and reduce draughts.

Employers are also told to offer flexible working patterns or job rotations to help minimise the effects of the cold.

What are the rights for school children?

According to the Educa- tion School Premises Regulations 1999, schools across the country also have a duty to keep pupils comfortable in extreme temperatures.

Regulations state that a school heating system must be capable of heating a classroom up to at least 18C.

This minimum temperature must be maintained at all times while the room is in use.

Areas of high activity such as a gym or large hall must be at 15C whereas areas where there is a lower than normal level of physical activity because of sickness or physical disability including sick rooms and isolation rooms must have a minimum temperature of 21C.