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

In the presence of an orange or red code for low temperatures, heavy snowfall, rain, strong wind, and other adverse weather conditions, employers are obliged to adapt working conditions for outdoor work in accordance 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 may take the following organizational and/or technical measures:

• changing the type of work by assigning tasks that are safer under the given conditions;

• changing working hours in order to avoid working during the coldest hours of the day;

• introducing more frequent breaks;

• providing appropriate work clothing and personal protective equipment;

• providing rooms with conditions for restoring the body's thermal balance;

• providing hot drinks and other amenities.

Ordinance No. RD-07-3 of 18.07.2014 specifies the optimal and permissible minimum and maximum values of air temperature in the cold and warm periods of the year for light, medium, and heavy physical work in indoor premises.

At low temperatures, the optimal values are:

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

• for medium physical work – from 17 to 20 degrees;

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

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

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

• for medium 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 labor.

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

Trade Union Advice: In case of violations of the standards, contact your trade union as well as the labor inspection