LRD guides and handbook October 2024

Health and Safety Law 2024

The WTR sets the maximum working week at 48 hours per week for adult workers, averaged over what is called the “reference period” (regulation 4, WTR). This means that adult workers can legally work more than 48 hours in some weeks, as long as they work less than 48 hours in others. The reference period is normally 17 weeks, but it can be extended to 26 weeks in some special cases.