Can it be to hot to work ?

[ManwithSupra]

The office i am working in is over 30'c at the moment with no air, is there a law saying a max temp you can work at cos i cant concentrate at all.

Aircon is working but no really effecting a openplan office with 150 people in it.

[Lucifer]

Yes 30o is too hot. Look of the .gov H&S pages its all there.

[michael]

It's always too hot to work, even in Winter

[gaz1]

we have been sympethetic, and closing the job down at 3pm each day this week:cool:

[peter richards]

i think so its the same as when its to cold , there are perameters .

ive just done a full valet on a shogun , sweat my nuts off ,

[Lucifer]

we have been sympethetic, and closing the job down at 3pm each day this week:cool:

 

 

For some!

[gaz1]

For some!

well works for me, having a shower in a min and coming down to you:D

[Class One]

There's a lower limit but iirc there's no upper limit. Sweat and bear it.

[Terminator]

I cant remember the figures but their are max and min figures in offices. Not sure about other places. My brother told me that the only person covered by regs in a school is the secretary, everyone else has to sweat it out, now that is crazy.

 

I have been starting at 05.00 and finishing at 14.00. Heavy physical work is just impossible after early afternoon.

[michael]

http://www.freesafetycheck.co.uk/min-temp.htm

 

Although there is no maximum temperature stated in the regulations, the guidance states:

 

'An acceptable zone of thermal comfort for most people in the UK lies roughly between 13°C (56°F) and 30°C (86°F), with acceptable temperatures for more strenuous work activities concentrated towards the bottom end of the range, and more sedentary activities towards the higher end.

 

And:

 

Whilst British legislation does not set a maximum working temperature, it is interesting that the World Health Organisation recommends a maximum air temperature of 75°F/24°C for workers to work comfortably.

 

(From http://www.bfawu.org/health-temperature.htm)

 

So in other words you can't complain about the max

[outatime]

I've been coming in and finishing earlier. Straight in the sea after work, its plenty cool enough in there.

[Terminator]

Opps I stand corrected there is no max.

 

But this is interesting

TEMPERATURE AT WORK

 

Because of the nature of the industry we work in, there will always be concerns about working temperatures. From one extreme to the other, the heat of oven work to the cold of the frozen food plant, temperature is a serious health & safety issue and one that we need to address.

 

Too much heat and we run the risk of serious fatigue, heat stroke and even death, likewise too much exposure to cold can cause frost bite, hypothermia, coma and possible fatality.

 

Extremes of temperature can cause extremes of consequence.

 

Whilst British legislation does not set a maximum working temperature, it is interesting that the World Health Organisation recommends a maximum air temperature of 75°F/24°C for workers to work comfortably.

 

Despite the absence of a maximum temperature there are protections for BFAWU members under current legislation. The Health & Safety at Work Act1974 obliges the employer to provide a workplace that is safe and without risk to health, whilst the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992, clearly state that the employer must assess the risks and introduce prevention/control measures based on those assessments. Coupled with the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 (Regulation 7), which states that a reasonable temperature should be maintained during working hours. In fact the Approved Code of Practice to these regulations states, “that all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a comfortable temperature”.

 

These pieces of legislation clearly leave the field open when it comes to determining definitions of risk and reasonableness, but clearly to do nothing could lead to prosecution.

 

SOME OF THE EFFECTS THAT HEAT HAS ON THE BODY:

 

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Uncomfortable levels of heat at the lower level are more likely to cause accidents because it lowers concentration levels.

 

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Dehydration caused by loss of fluids due to perspiration giving rise to cramp, headache and fatigue.

 

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Heat Stress with symptoms of nausea, extreme tiredness, dizziness, clammy skin, racing pulse, fainting, lower levels of concentration and tolerance.

 

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Heat Stroke can occur if the temperature of the blood rises above 39°C/102°F and can cause confusion, incoherent speech, convulsions, organ damage and possible death.

 

All the above symptoms are avoidable with proper risk assessing and realistic control measures, some simple to achieve others that need some thought, for example:

 

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Access to cool drinking water at all times, extra breaks, limited amounts of salt.

 

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Cooler clothing.

 

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Increased ventilation, fans or air conditioning.

 

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Avoidance of direct sunlight through windows by using shades.

 

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Where possible the reduction of heavy physical work.

 

 

 

When assessing risks to heat, it should be recognised that women who are pregnant are more susceptible to heat intolerance and that new mothers may incur difficulties in breast feeding if they are dehydrated.

[SupraTT2004]

There's a lower limit but iirc there's no upper limit. Sweat and bear it.

 

Doug, has got it exactly, at my work being a legal firm, there is no max temp, only a min so we all just have to live with it.

[tbourner]

It's also illegal to walk out claiming it's too hot!!! Only option is to complain to management asking for actions to be taken.

[China Man]

in my shop the air con have been broken for the last 4 weeks and they managed to just fix it yesterday. At times the high street is cooler than my shop where customer comes in and go "woo, is hot in here" then the next thing they walk straight out

 

I offer all my staff bottle of water everyday and refill from water cooler at staff room when ever they needed. no max temp so they all have to work inc myself

 

evil boss here

[outatime]

It's also illegal to walk out claiming it's too hot!!! Only option is to complain to management asking for actions to be taken.

 

One of our usual 'complainers' has been telling everyone it is too hot to work. She is free to go home if she wants, but she needn't bother coming back again.

[Syed Shah]

You guys need AC! Then you could all complain its too cold - as people have a habit of putting AC on sub-zero round here.

[Terminator]

Having sweated my nuts of since 5, just thought I would let you all know, it's a very comfortable 23 in my lounge and this beer is ice cold and tastes fantactic. Just stitting down now with my feet up.

[Wez]

One council office i know of was closed down yesterday for being too hot and all staff sent home.

[peter richards]

likewise phil just had a cold shower and will chillout the rest of the day

[colsoop]

I took a week off , i have thermal cut offs on my machines and i can only get 20 minutes out of them before they - cut off.

Looks like the week after JAE will be busy to compensate

[Charlotte]

I think a nice big ice-cream is the way forward.

[michael]

I think a nice big ice-cream is the way forward.

 

Thanks very much

[Charlotte]

Thanks very much

 

Flake?

[peter richards]

whats that called char 69