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The following information provides answers to some frequently asked questions.

What is the legal requirement for the temperature of my workplace?

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set no maximum or minimum temperature. They require that 'during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable'.

They recommend that workrooms be at least 16 degrees celsius. This temperature can be reduced to 13 degrees celsius if the work involves severe physical effort. Guidance written by the Health and Safety Executive entitled ‘Thermal Comfort in the Workplace – Guidance for Employers’ states that ‘An acceptable Zone of thermal comfort for most people in the UK lies roughly between 13° C (56° F) and 30° C (86° F)'.

Am I entitled to a break at work?

Under the 'Working Time Regulations 1998', a worker is entitled to a 20 minute break when their working period is more than 6 hours. This break should be within the working period and not at the start or end of the period.

Young workers are entitled to a 30 minutes break if required to work more than 4 and a half hours at a time.

What is the maximum number of hours a person should work each week?

48 hours is the maximum unless there are certain conditions which apply under the 'Working Time Regulations 1998'.

What is a health and safety poster and what addresses need to be inserted?

There is a duty for an employer to provide information to their employees on their duties and general requirements under health and safety legislation. This may be done by providing a health and safety law poster. This poster may be obtained from any good bookseller, or at http://www.hsebooks.co.uk or by telephoning 01787 881165.

The following contact details should be inserted into the last two boxes of the poster:

Enforcing Authority:
Planning and Public Protection
Denbighshire County Council
County Hall
Ruthin
Denbighshire
LL15 1YN
 
Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS)
Health and Safety Executive
Unit 7 and 8
Ederson Court
Ellice Way
Wrexham
LL13 7YT

Are ladders banned?

Under the 'Work at Height Regulations 2005' the use of ladders is not banned. The regulations require the employer to undertake a risk assessment of the use of ladders to determine whether more suitable work equipment should be used for the activity. 

Do I need to register my business?

The 'Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963' require employers of offices or shops to notify the appropriate enforcing authority of their intentions prior to employing anyone to work there. To do this the employer needs to fill in a notification form (OSR1 form) and send copies to the appropriate authority, as indicated on the form.