Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2026
990. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if consideration has been given to producing guidance or minimum standards to employers regarding these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55804/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish law regulates work carried out in high or low temperatures. The existing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) legislative framework places clear responsibilities on employers / duty holders to manage risks arising from workplace temperatures and indoor and outdoor environmental conditions.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, duty holders are required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees and to identify hazards and assess workplace risks.
More specifically, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 - 2023 require duty holders to ensure that:
• Enclosed workplaces are provided with an adequate supply of fresh air (Regulation 6 – Ventilation).
• During working hours, the temperature in rooms containing workstations is appropriate for the work activity being undertaken, taking account of working methods and physical demands on employees (Regulation 7 – Room Temperature).
• Ensure that employees at outdoor workstations are protected against inclement weather conditions (Regulation 23 – Outdoor Workstations).
Guidance on the requirements of these regulations is provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), and in 2023 the Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) was also introduced. The Code provides practical guidance to duty holders on assessing and managing indoor air quality and thermal comfort through a risk-based approach. It supports duty holders in identifying, evaluating and controlling factors that may affect worker health, comfort and wellbeing, including ventilation effectiveness, temperature, humidity and other indoor environmental parameters.
There is no prescribed maximum workplace temperature. A risk assessment approach whereby duty holders consider workplace-specific factors is expected, considering:
• The nature of the work and associated physical demands.
• Vulnerable worker groups.
• Building design and ventilation arrangements.
• Heat-generating processes and equipment.
• The duration and frequency of worker exposure to elevated temperatures.
Where risks from elevated temperatures are identified, a hierarchy of control measures, including improving ventilation, modifying work practices, introducing engineering controls, reviewing work/rest arrangements and monitoring indoor environmental conditions are identified.
The assessment of risks presented to outdoor workers by atmospheric conditions, which would include high temperature, humidity etc are also provided for in specific legislation for the construction and quarry sectors - The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 to 2021 as amended, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2008 to 2019, respectively.
A risk-based approach, supported by the requirements of the 2005 Act, the General Application Regulations and other specific legislation, and the Codes of Practice for Confined Spaces and Indoor Air Quality, provide duty holders with a flexible framework to manage thermal comfort and workplace temperature risks across a diverse range of workplaces.
Duty holders are also made aware that consideration is given to the interaction between elevated temperatures and work organisation factors, including work intensity, PPE requirements, staffing levels, work/rest arrangements, shift work, access to welfare facilities and the potential for fatigue or reduced concentration, particularly in safety-critical roles.
Although there are no plans at present to introduce legally defined maximum temperature limits for workplaces, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment keeps Ireland’s robust suite of employment legislation under constant review to ensure it remains fit for purpose. I have asked officials to review policies in relation to high temperatures in the workplace.
HSA offers a range of guidance on its website on conducting written risk assessments and on practices to prevent and control them, including for excessive workplace temperatures and various work activity types: www.hsa.ie/eng/.
