Employers will have to estimate their employees’ metabolic rates
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is proposing new regulations on maximum temperatures in workplaces. They will require employers to estimate their employees’ metabolic rates, which means collecting information about their height, weight and age, in accordance with Polish Standards
Experts emphasise that the regulations are unclear and costly, which may be a particularly burden for small businesses. Employers will be required to put in place technologies (e.g. air conditioning) and organisational measures (breaks, remote working) to ensure appropriate working conditions. The regulations are controversial due to a risk of infringing personal data protection and the lack of clear methods for measuring metabolic rate, which will additionally increase costs.