Poland: Maximum Permissible Temperatures in the Workplace – Draft Regulation
On 27 June 2025, a new version of the draft regulation was published, which aims to regulate the maximum temperatures in the workplace that are safe for employees’ health.
Currently, Polish law only regulates minimum temperatures in workrooms, while the issue of high temperatures due to weather conditions remains unregulated.
The latest draft regulation proposes the introduction of the following rules:
- ensuring that the temperature in workrooms does not exceed 35°C, unless technologically impossible.
- for work in open spaces involving physical exertion (resulting in a defined effective energy expenditure of the body), ensuring a temperature not exceeding 32°C, unless technologically impossible.
If the temperature exceeds the above standards due to weather conditions, work cannot be performed. The ban does not apply to certain types of work (this list largely overlaps with the types of work not covered by the Sunday work ban) and employees of childcare institutions for children under 3 years of age, as well as officers and soldiers.
In addition to maximum temperatures, the draft also provides for additional obligations for employers in the event of elevated temperatures:
- when the temperature in the workplace exceeds 28 °C due to weather conditions, and for work involving physical exertion (causing a defined effective energy expenditure of the body) 25 °C, the employer will be obliged to:
- provide appropriate technical solutions to lower the temperature, unless technological considerations do not allow it
- if lowering the temperature is not possible – apply appropriate organisational solutions to minimise the impact of temperature on the health of employees.
- in case of work in open spaces at temperatures above 25 °C, the employer will be obliged to apply appropriate organisational solutions minimising the impact of temperature on the health of employees, depending on the conditions and specific nature of the work.
According to the draft, the employer would be required to consult organisational solutions with employees within the framework of the health and safety committee or in accordance with Article 23711a of the Labour Code, and after consulting a doctor providing preventive health care to employees. The employer would then inform employees about the agreed organisational solutions.
The proposed changes will take effect on 1 January 2027.
