Heat rules in Ireland: no set temperature, a risk assessment duty and the HSA's outdoor worker guidance
What the Health and Safety Authority's sun protection page, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007 say about hot weather for outdoor workers, and what regulation 7 sets for room temperature.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It restates the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) page on sun protection for outdoor workers, regulation 7 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 299 of 2007) as published on the Irish Statute Book, and a European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) highlight, as read on October 9, 2026. The comparison of every place is on the heat rules overview.
No outdoor temperature limit in the pages read
None of the three pages gives a temperature at which outdoor work must change or stop. The HSA page says the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers and those in control of the work to carry out a risk assessment and put measures in place to protect employees. It adds that the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 and the Quarry Regulations 2008 have specific provisions for protecting people who work outdoors against atmospheric conditions that could affect their safety and health.
What the HSA lists for hot weather
Under a heading "Temperature", the HSA page says that when sun exposure and weather cause hot periods or heatwaves, the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke increases, particularly for those working outdoors or in hot indoor environments. It lists examples of control measures employers can take.
| Group on the HSA page | Examples it names |
|---|---|
| Shade and cooling | Shaded work areas, ventilation, fans, air conditioning, cool rest areas |
| Adapting the work | Strenuous tasks in cooler parts of the day, moving workers to cooler areas, job rotation, flexible patterns, more rest breaks |
| Hydration | Cool drinking water near the work area, with workers encouraged to drink regularly even if not thirsty |
| Monitoring | Training for workers and supervisors on heat stress symptoms, buddy systems, emergency procedures |
| Clothing and vulnerable workers | Light breathable clothing, cooling protective equipment for extreme conditions, extra consideration for new, pregnant and older workers and those with medical conditions |
The same page treats ultraviolet radiation separately. It says outdoor workers might be exposed to 2 to 3 times more UV radiation than indoor workers, that the UV index in Ireland is typically moderate to high (3 or above) between 11am and 3pm from April to September, and that skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland with over 11,000 cases diagnosed every year.
Regulation 7 and the EU-OSHA page
Regulation 7 of the 2007 Regulations, headed "Room temperature", requires that during working hours the temperature in rooms containing workstations is appropriate for human beings, having regard to the working methods and physical demands. It sets minimums, so far as reasonably practicable, of 17.5 degrees Celsius for sedentary office work and 16 degrees Celsius for other mainly seated work after the first hour. It concerns rooms, rest areas and sanitary facilities, and sets no maximum. EU-OSHA's highlight dated July 24, 2026 says heat affects safety, health and productivity, particularly for those working outdoors, and points to its publication "Heat at work: guidance for workplaces", dated May 15, 2023.
Sources
- Health and Safety Authority (Ireland), Sun protection for outdoor workers, read October 9, 2026
- Irish Statute Book, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, S.I. No. 299 of 2007, regulation 7, read October 9, 2026
- European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Managing heat at work in a changing climate, July 24, 2026, read October 9, 2026