Working Life > Working Conditions > Temperature at the Workplace

Temperature in Workplace

Definition, Explanation

In summer, many workplaces turn into a stove. German workplaces-guideline ASR 6 recommends a working temperature of up to 26°C. This limit, however, is not always enforceable, as it is merely a guideline. The workplaces-decree § 6 only prescribes to provide a room temperature harmless to health. Free time for heat is only practised for school students and teachers who are then virtually exempt and do not have to re-do missed hours.

High temperature leads to tiredness, lack of concentration, cardio-vascular dysfunctions and decreased performance. This impairs productivity.

Special protection is provided for expectant mothers and mothers during lactation. According to mother-protection law, they must not be employed in a way in that heat endangers their health. If the work is a health hazard for the mother or the child, employment is prohibited. A medical certificate is required. Also different kinds of employees can become unable to work through heat-induced health impairment. In such cases, the employer is obliged to continue paying the wage.

Also in the winter, when outside temperatures are low, the employer has to take care that the room temperatures are suitable for working:

• Sedentary work: Minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius for light work, and 19 degrees Celsius for medium hard work
• Upright work or walking work: Minimum temperature of 19 degrees for light work, 17 degrees for medium hard work and 12 degrees for hard work
• In break rooms, stand-by rooms and sanitary rooms: Minimum temperature 21 degrees
• In washrooms: Minimum temperature 24 degrees Celsius

Tips, Checklist

• Leave your car at home and go to work on your bike. If the way is too long to go by bike, cover the steering wheel and your seat in your car with a towel, open the windows before the drive and aerate the inside of the car with open doors
• Use climate control if available. Otherwise, fans work too
• Despite heat, in many professions, it is advisable to maintain etiquette and not doff your jacket before the host does so. Tie plus closed shirt, for women socks beneath skirts or dresses, no spaghetti straps or mini skirts whenever contact with clients is given or you are ambitious career. Shorts and flip-flops are generally out
• Sweat on the forehead is dabbed with Kleenex. Cold water in the face in the bathroom
• Adapt to outdoors temperatures:
  • Use the cool morning hours for working
  • Have a longer lunch break, why not even a nap
Aerate rooms in the morning and in the late evening
• In the morning, close jalousies on the sunny side
• Regularly adjust that sun-protection. Make sure there remains enough light to work
• Do without lamps. They heat the room
• Be careful with fans and air draft. Thin-skinned people easily get a neck-hardening or conjunctivitis
• Regularly cool your temporo and wrists with cold water. Also a moist cloth in the neck brings relief
• At the desk, you can put your feet into a bucket of cold water, to achieve a cooling effect
• Drink much water (best non-carbonated), fruit- or herbs- tees or juices. Coffee is less suited, since it excites the heart and circulation
• Avoid fat meals, preferring fruit and vegetables
• Schedule physically or mentally hard jobs for the morning hours
• Avoid stress
• Wear light clothes from cotton, linen or silk
• If there is a works council, regulations concerning heat can be included in the company agreement. Those can cover:
  • Changes of working hours
  • Company vacation
  • Working breaks
  • Climate control, aeraetors, fans
  • Clothing rules
  • Food and drinks rules
  • Company-specific and workplace-specific protection regulations
• Even when temperatures are high, do not refuse to work, but draw your employer's attention to the issue. Try to solve the problem together with them

Last update: 07/16/2010