Winter working conditions: employer obligations and employee rights

In relation to the months of January and February, which are traditionally the coldest in the year, FTTU draws attention to the following:

In the event of an orange or red code for low temperatures, heavy snowfall, rain, strong wind, and other adverse meteorological conditions, employers are required to comply with the working conditions for outdoor work with the requirements of Ordinance No. RD-07-3 of 18.07.2014 on the minimum requirements for the microclimate of workplaces.

To minimize the risk to their workers, employers can take the following organizational and/or technical measures:

• change the type of work, assigning such that is safer under the given conditions;

• change the working hours to avoid work during the coldest hours of the day;

• introduce more frequent breaks;

• provide appropriate work clothing and personal protective equipment;

• provide premises with conditions for restoring the body's heat balance;

• provide warm drinks and other amenities.

Ordinance No. RD-07-3 of 18.07.2014 specifies the optimal and allowable minimum and maximum temperature values for the cold and warm periods of the year for light, moderately heavy, and heavy physical work in enclosed spaces.

At low temperatures, the optimal values are:

• for light physical work - from 20 to 23 degrees;

• for moderately heavy physical work - from 17 to 20 degrees;

• for heavy physical work - from 16 to 18 degrees.

The permissible threshold values for air temperature during the cold period are:

• for light physical work - from 18 to 25 degrees;

• for moderately heavy physical work - from 15 to 23 degrees;

• for heavy physical work - from 13 to 19 degrees.

Lower temperatures are also allowed depending on the category of work.

When temperatures drop below -12°C, the employer is obliged to issue an order to reduce working hours for outdoor workers to 6 hours.

Union Council: In case of violations of the norms, contact your union, as well as the labor inspection.