Why it is important to maintain a safe and comfortable workplace temperature
For many UK businesses the cost of running air conditioning may seem high, but there can be hidden costs of not providing air conditioning or adequate heating in the workplace. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 state that ‘During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.’ London Cool also receives many enquiries from businesses needing to keep their server or computer rooms cool to protect valuable data and systems. Thermal discomfort caused by workplace temperature on can have an impact on health and safety, with more accidents being reported, all of which have an associated cost. Many employees are not able to adapt their clothing because they wear a specific uniform or PPE . Wearing too much clothing or PPE may be a primary cause of heat stress but if clothing does not provide enough insulation, then there is a risk of cold injuries such as frostbite or hypothermia. Employees working i