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Regulation 7 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, sets important rules and guidelines for ensuring healthy working temperatures in UK workplaces. In the event that employers fail to ensure these and workers suffer injury or illness as a result, those affected may be able to claim accident at work compensation.
The responsibilities imposed by Regulation 7
Regulation 7 requires that all indoor workplaces have comfortable and reasonable temperatures. However, there are obvious and notable exceptions in the cases of specific workplaces such as bakeries and cold stores.
Furthermore, the accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) elaborates: "The temperature in workrooms should provide reasonable comfort without the need for special clothing. Where such a temperature is impractical because of hot or cold processes, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as close as possible to comfortable. 'Workroom' means a room where people normally work for more than short periods."
Typically, this will mean that most normal workplaces are required to provide a workplace setting where the temperature is at least 16 degrees Celsius – however, if workers are required to perform a large amount of body-heating manual work, this may be adjusted to 13 degrees Celsius.
Providing an upper-limit for workplace temperature is a rather more difficult process. However, this does not mean that employers are free from any obligation to mitigate hotter temperatures. Instead, they must work with both Regulation 7, the ACOP, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and their workforces to ensure a safe upper-limit is imposed for individual workplaces.
The Hazards of thermal discomfort
Both excessively hot and excessively cold temperatures pose a threat to worker safety. Hot temperatures can cause drowsiness, confusion, and reduced concentration and may ultimately cause an accident.
Cold temperatures can have a similar effect and may increase the rate of respiratory conditions as well as vibration-related industrial diseases such as Vibration White Finger (VWF).
If you believe that thermal discomfort has led to you suffering injury in a workplace accident, you may be entitled to claim accident at work compensation.
Claim compensation for workplace injury or illness
Employers are insured so that they can pay compensation in the event that health and safety neglect leads to workers suffering injury.
A strong accident at work compensation claim will require the expertise of a specialist workplace injury lawyer as well as evidence. This may include:
If you are considering a claim for injury sustained in the workplace, you can consult one of our knowledgeable advisors today.
Simply use our Online help service, Request a Call-back or call us on 0800 10 757 95.
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