As the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice and snow for parts of the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights the importance of protecting workers during the cold weather.
There needs to be appropriate adjustments for staff, especially in certain jobs which are harder to perform in these conditions.
John Rowe, Head of Operational Strategy, reminds employers that it is important to "ensure staff are working in reasonable temperatures" as their safety could be compromised as a result of their "ability to make good decisions" deteriorating.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations SI 1992/3004 governs temperatures in indoor workplaces and provides a legal obligation for employers to have a "reasonable" temperature in the workplace.
To ensure indoor workplaces are kept at a reasonable temperature, the Approved Code of Practice, suggests the minimum temperature usually falls around 16 degrees Celsius or 13 degrees Celsius if the work itself involves extreme physical effort.
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