The GMB Union has said that it has received many enquiries about the law on temperature at work during the current cold spell and has advised that those at risk of the freezing temperatures should be redeployed.

The current law states that workers predominantly sat down or doing little or no physical work should work in temperatures at a minimum of 16 degrees Celsius, whilst physical workers should endure no less than 13 degrees Celsius. If the temperature plummets as it has in recent weeks, an employer should use extra heating to bring the temperature back up to the minimum.

John McClean, GMB National Health and Safety Officer, said: “Those exposed to risks of falls in slippery conditions may need to be redeployed to suitable alternative work if gritting cannot be done or if the ice cannot be removed.”

Employers should consider measures to improve the working day for employees such as warm drinks, enough breaks to enable them to warm up and using systems of work to limit exposure to the freezing temperatures.

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