Answer to Question 2:

Hi Peter

The Workplace Regulations 1993 (Part 3 of the General Application Regulations 1993) deal with workplace temperatures.  However there are no specific regulations that deal with working conditions in a cold room facility.   

The Workplace Regulations state that “during working hours, the temperatures in rooms containing workstations shall be adequate for human beings, having regard to the working methods being used and the physical demands placed on all employees.  As these Regulations apply to such widely differing workplaces, it is impossible to set down specific temperatures.  However the HSA guide to these regulations indicates a 'reasonable' temperature is one that provides reasonable comfort without special clothing and is normally to be taken as at least 16 °C or at least 13 °C where much of the work involves serious physical effort (e.g. repeated exertion so that a temperature of16 °C would be uncomfortably warm).  This is obviously not referiing to working conditions in a cold-room facility

In accordance with the Safety Health & welfare at Work Act 2005, a risk assessment should be undertaken on all work processes and tasks.  There is a legal duty on the employer to reduce the risk as much as is reasonably practicable.  By enclosing these sub-zero temperatures within a cold room, you have already reduced the risk.

If short periods only are worked (e.g. entry into the cold rooms) the following measures should be considered to further reduce discomfort 

• Maintain a 'reasonable' temperature of at least 16 °C (or at least 13 °C if the work involves serious physical effort) throughout the work area outside of the chill room.
• Provide suitable protective clothing e.g. thermal work wear such as gloves, overalls, jackets. Note: There is a requirement in the 1993 PPE Regulations to provide appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).  The additional cold protection gear that staff  will have to wear will fall under the requirements of the regulations
• Provide suitable heated rest facilities (e.g. heated areas) and allow workers ready access to them
• Ensure that employees cannot get accidentally get locked inside a cold room – ensure that an emergency door release is present on the inside 
• Institute systems of work to minimise the length of time of exposure to uncomfortable temperatures and, through task rotation, allow opportunities for staff to go to heated areas.

Further information and guidance on assessing and evaluating cold indoor environments, the effect on workers, minimising the effect and guidance on clothing specification/insulation values is contained in BS 7915:1998 Ergonomics of the thermal environment - Guide to the design and evaluation of working practices for cold indoor environments.