Heat Decree

Decree No. 2025-482 creates Labour Code Articles R. 4463-1 to R. 4463-8 and applies from 1 July 2025. French law still sets no maximum temperature above which work is prohibited: the obligation concerns assessing risk, indoors and outdoors, by reference to Météo-France yellow, orange and red warnings. Expected prevention measures are listed: changing processes, moving workstations to cooler areas, adjusting schedules and breaks, shading and insulation, suitable protective equipment, staff training. The employer must provide cool drinking water near workstations, with at least 3 litres per day per worker on construction sites. Under a red warning, risk is reassessed daily and work suspended if measures are insufficient. Under-18s cannot be assigned work exposing them to extreme temperatures. This is currently the only adaptation obligation directly applying to an industrial SME, hospital or construction company. Air conditioning is not the prescribed response: the legislation cites shading, insulation and moving workstations.