You don't have to be a hero in a storm. The law doesn't give magic "go home at 3pm if it's grim" rules, but it does say you shouldn't be left working in conditions that are likely to hurt you.
4.28.1 The law in a nutshell
There's no fixed legal minimum or maximum temperature for outdoor work in the UK. Instead, your employer (or you, if you're the contractor) must manage weather as a health and safety risk.
Key bits:
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 -- employers must protect workers from reasonably foreseeable risks, including heat, cold, wind, ice and storms.
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 -- say indoor workplaces should have a "reasonable" temperature. The Approved Code of Practice suggests around 16°C minimum (13°C for heavy physical work) as a guide for indoor spaces, but these are not legal minimums -- they're guidance figures, and there are no hard numbers at all for outdoor work.
- CDM 2015 -- clients and contractors must plan, manage and monitor construction work, including adverse weather, so it can be carried out safely.
So the test is: are conditions safe and reasonably comfortable, given the job -- not "do you feel a bit miserable".
4.28.2 Cold, heat, rain and comfort vs danger
HSE's view on outdoor temperature
- There's no law saying "below X degrees you go home" or "above Y degrees you stop".
- Employers must assess the risk and provide controls.
Cold / wet
- Expect proper clothing, waterproofs, gloves, boots with good grip, and more frequent warm-up breaks in low temperatures.
- Ice and snow should be managed -- gritting, clearing, not sending you up on slippery scaffolds.
Heat / sun
- HSE warns about heat stress and sun damage -- outdoor workers should have shaded rest, water, adjusted hours where possible, and protection (hats, high-SPF sunscreen).
The line between discomfort and danger
"Uncomfortable" (cold, wet, hot but manageable) is not an automatic right to stop work. When conditions cross into unsafe (risk of hypothermia, heatstroke, slips, electrical hazards, etc.), your employer must act -- and you can refuse unsafe work.
4.28.3 Wind, height, cranes and lightning
Wind and height
- HSE and industry guidance say you should not work at height or operate plant when wind makes it unsafe -- especially with large panels, sheeting, or on exposed scaffolds.
Cranes
BS 7121 and HSE guidance put typical stop thresholds around:
- Mobile cranes: about 25 mph (approx 11 m/s) for many operations (check the manufacturer's manual -- it varies by crane, configuration and load).
- Tower cranes: industry guidance says they must be taken out of service around 38 mph (approx 16.5 m/s) or when the manufacturer's limit is reached.
Scaffolding / general working at height
- There's no single legal "wind speed limit", but if gusts can unbalance you or catch materials, the risk assessment should say stop -- especially with large boards or cladding.
Lightning
- On an exposed site, when there's thunder or lightning in the area, workers should move to a proper shelter (substantial building or enclosed metal vehicle) and stay there for around 30 minutes after the last thunder.
- You don't stay up on scaffolds or roofs with metal kit in a thunderstorm.
4.28.4 Rain and electrical safety
Rain plus power tools plus temporary electrics is a specific combination that kills people.
- 110V supply is standard on construction sites for a reason -- it reduces the risk of fatal shock in wet conditions compared to 240V.
- RCDs (residual current devices) must be used and tested -- they're your last line of defence if water gets into connections.
- Keep connections off the ground -- plugs and sockets sitting in puddles are an electrocution risk, not just a nuisance.
- Inspect leads and tools before use in wet conditions -- damaged insulation that's fine in the dry can be lethal when wet.
If you're working in persistent rain with power tools, the risk assessment should specifically address electrical safety in wet conditions. If it doesn't, raise it.
4.28.5 Employed vs CIS vs self-employed -- what changes?
The safety duties are similar, but the pay and leverage differ.
Employed site worker
- Your employer must protect you from weather-related risks (that's law), and if work stops for safety reasons, your pay arrangements depend on your contract.
- You have the right not to be made to work in conditions that pose serious and imminent danger.
CIS subcontractor / self-employed
- There's rarely any guarantee of pay if the site shuts for weather -- no work usually means no money that day.
- But the main contractor still has a duty to run a safe site; they cannot force you to work in dangerous conditions just because you're "self-employed".
Reality
You might choose to carry on in rough weather to get paid, but you're entitled to walk away from clearly unsafe tasks (e.g. sheets in high winds, roofs in lightning, icy scaffolds) -- and you should.
4.28.6 What "reasonable precautions" look like
On a well-run site, you should see:
- Weather risks considered in RAMS (heat, cold, wind, rain, ice).
- PPE appropriate to the season -- waterproofs, thermal layers, hats, eye protection, sunblock.
- Shelter from wind and rain where possible (welfare cabins, covered areas).
- Drying rooms for wet kit.
- Extra breaks and adjusted start/finish times in extremes (earlier starts in heat, shorter spells outdoors in cold).
- Clear rules on when cranes, MEWPs and height work stop for wind.
If none of that is happening and people are slipping around or overheating, the risk assessment isn't being followed.
4.28.7 Securing site before weather hits
Bad weather doesn't just affect you -- it affects your materials and kit.
- High winds can turn unsecured boards, sheets and scaffolding into projectiles. Secure or take down anything that could catch the wind before it arrives.
- Rain can ruin stored materials (plaster, insulation, timber, cement). Cover or move them inside where possible.
- If you're self-employed, your tools and materials are your livelihood. Don't leave kit exposed on site overnight when bad weather is forecast -- you're the one who pays to replace it.
A ten-minute site tidy before a storm is cheaper than replacing materials or dealing with damage to neighbouring properties.
4.28.8 Can they force you to work in heavy rain or extreme cold?
Legally
- There's no simple line like "it's raining, you can go home on full pay".
- Employers must act when conditions pose a real risk -- slips, cold stress, electrical danger, plant instability -- not just discomfort.
You can
- Raise it with your supervisor:
- "The scaffold is icy and we're carrying big boards -- this isn't safe."
- "The wind's catching these panels -- the lift doesn't feel safe."
- Ask what the safe system of work is for the conditions and point to company/HSE guidance.
If you're being told to work in obviously dangerous weather (not just nasty), you have a right to refuse on safety grounds. The smart move is to raise it calmly, refer to risk assessments and, if needed, involve the safety rep or manager rather than just downing tools and disappearing.
4.28.9 Driving to and from site
If conditions are bad enough that the site shuts, the drive home can be just as risky.
- If police or highways agencies are saying "don't travel", you shouldn't be pressured to drive home or to another site.
- Your employer has a general duty of care that extends to requiring you to travel in dangerous conditions.
- If you're self-employed, use your judgement -- no job is worth a smash on a flooded road or an icy motorway.
- If you're staying on site because travel is unsafe, the site should have welfare facilities available.
What to do next
- On your current site, check the RAMS or site rules -- do they mention weather risks and any stop-work triggers for wind, ice or heat?
- If they don't, ask your supervisor or H&S rep: "What's our rule for wind / ice / heat on this job?"
- Make yourself a simple personal rule (e.g. "no height work with big sheets above 25mph" or "always take shaded breaks every hour in heat") and stick to it, even when you're under pressure.
- Check your electrical setup is suitable for wet conditions -- 110V, RCDs tested, connections raised off the ground.
- Before forecast bad weather, secure the site -- materials covered, loose items tied down or removed, scaffolding checked.
Sources
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 -- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents -- general duty on employers to protect workers from foreseeable risks.
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 -- legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made -- requirements for workplace temperature (indoor) and welfare facilities.
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 -- legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/contents/made -- duties to plan and manage construction work safely, including adverse weather.
- HSE guidance on temperature -- hse.gov.uk/temperature -- guidance on managing heat and cold at work (the ACoP 16°C/13°C figures are guidance, not law).
- BS 7121 series -- safe use of cranes, including wind speed limits.
- HSE guidance on working at height -- including weather considerations for scaffolding and access equipment.
- Met Office -- lightning safety guidance for outdoor workers.
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