New Workplace Heat Rules in Poland from 2027: Employer Duties and Temperature Limits

From 11 January 2027, new occupational health and safety rules on working during heatwaves will apply in Poland. The regulations introduce maximum temperature limits for indoor and outdoor work and specify when employers must implement technical or organisational measures and when work must be suspended entirely. The new obligations will affect employers and HR teams responsible for protecting employees during periods of high temperatures.

When Must an Employer Suspend Work Due to Heat?

Under the amended regulations, the employer must ensure that the temperature does not exceed:

• 35°C – in indoor work premises,
• 32°C – for outdoor work involving physical effort causing an effective energy expenditure of the body over 1500 kcal (6280 kJ) for men and 1000 kcal (4187 kJ) for women during a work shift.

Work cannot be performed during times when weather conditions cause temperatures to exceed these respective thresholds.

Importantly: Suspending work at temperatures above 35°C indoors and 32°C outdoors is mandatory, unless technological reasons do not allow for it. If the nature of processes (e.g., manufacturing) precludes their sudden shutdown, these strict limits will not force a stoppage.

Temperature Thresholds of 28°C and 25°C: New Employer Duties

You do not have to wait for extreme heatwaves to take action. The law will force employers to react much earlier. Mandatory technical solutions (e.g., air conditioning) or organizational solutions minimizing the impact of temperature on employee health will be necessary when the temperature exceeds:

• 28°C – in indoor work premises,
• 25°C – for indoor work involving physical effort causing an effective energy expenditure of the body over 1500 kcal (6280 kJ) for men and 1000 kcal (4187 kJ) for women during a work shift,
• 25°C – outdoors, when work is performed in an open space, which will oblige the employer to implement appropriate organizational solutions minimizing the impact of heat on the health of the staff.

Employee Consultation on Work Organisation During Heatwaves

Importantly, the employer cannot introduce organizational changes unilaterally. They will require consultation with employees through the OHS committee. If no such committee operates within the company, the employer will establish organizational solutions in accordance with Article 237¹¹ᵃ of the Labor Code, after consulting the physician responsible for preventive health care for the employees.

After consultations are completed, the employer must inform employees about the agreed organizational solutions in a manner customary at the workplace.

Exemptions from the New OHS Rules on Heatwaves

The law provides for exceptions. The new rules regarding temperature limits in the workplace will not apply to several specific professional groups and specific types of work.

The new rules will not cover officers of the Police, Internal Security Agency, Intelligence Agency, Military Counterintelligence Service, Military Intelligence Service, Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, Border Guard, Marshal’s Guard, State Protection Service, State Fire Service, Customs and Revenue Service, and Prison Service.

Soldiers within the meaning of the provisions of the Law on the Defense of the Fatherland are also exempt from the new restrictions.

The regulations will not apply to employees of institutions caring for children under the age of 3 (including nursery personnel).

The regulation also excludes from the new limits the specific types of work detailed in Article 151¹⁰ points 1, 2, 5–8, and 9 lit. c–h of the Labor Code, i.e., Sunday and holiday work:

• in the event of necessary rescue operations to protect human life or health, protect property or the environment, or repair a breakdown;
• in continuous operations;
• in transport and communications;
• in company fire brigades and company rescue services;
• in guarding property or protecting persons;
• in agriculture and livestock breeding;
• in performing work necessary due to its social utility and the daily needs of the population in:
  • catering,
  • hotel establishments,
  • municipal economy units,
  • healthcare institutions and other healthcare facilities intended for persons whose state of health requires 24-hour or all-day healthcare services,
  • social assistance organizational units and organizational units supporting family and foster care systems providing 24-hour care,
  • establishments operating in the field of culture, education, tourism, and recreation;

Prepare Your Company for the New Workplace Heat Rules

The new temperature limits and organisational obligations will apply from 11 January 2027. Employers should prepare appropriate technical and organisational measures and conduct the required consultations with employees.

Contact our team of specialists to assess how the new rules will affect your company and how to prepare your work organisation accordingly.