Petition for maximum workplace temperature launched

We had a perennial problem with heat (ie too much) in the office, we all had personal fans and 2 big fans on each floor. It's even more unpleasant when it's a hot wind! We each had a computer, there were 3 separate printers and a large photocopier/scanner/fax machine. During the winter we only had the radiators on on a Monday morning but some of them won't turn off. We opened all the widows we could without losing papers.

Tempers were short and concentration suffered, esp in summer. My empoyer said they couldn't do anything else. End of story.

I don't really think its relevant to talk about actual temperature - it's the comfort of everyone occupying that space, if 98% are really too cold and one person is too hot either the majority wear less clothes and the other more or where that's impossible the minority will have to accept it or personal arrangements made - personal heater or moving to a warmer location in the space. It was awful when you came back from lunch and met a wall of heat. I have no idea how my mate coped, having to wear tights all the while as a school cook - maybe that's why she became a naturist? LOL

We all used to wear sleeveless T-shirts or 'vests' and the loosest lightest garments we could find in the shops. OK in winter we sometimes needed a short sleeve, it meant dressing in layers all the time. Leased building, Landlord not interested in installing air-con - had to ght for ages to get permission to install it in our computer room even and obviously, we had to pay ALL the costs for that privelege.

Surely there has got to be something one could do when it's 100% of people?

I see the current legislation as being adequate but the guidance notes could be improved. However a level of flexibility needs to remain as well as an element of common sense, but i do think temperature levels recommended need to be changed to suit the season, the working environment and the work being done. A maximum level should be what? If you're a labourer it would be a lot lower than a bus driver so how can one figure be right?

For a sedantry worker temperatures exceeding 25oC are more likely to be seasonal and although it may start to become unpleasant it's certainly not unbearable. Providing an employer takes reasonable and practical measures and consults with its workforce, an agreement should be possible. This could include relaxing dress codes, adjusting breaks and providing extra drinks and allowing more flexible working hours and if possible, working locations.

Where the nature of the work being done involves working in excessive temperatures the guidance clearly needs to be different and prolonged exposure to excessive temperatures needs to be minimised. PPE and artificial cooling must be provided along with other means of averaging the overall temperature to something more reasonable. Seasonal adjustments should be made for outdoor workers to account for the hottest part of the day changes to workign hours being the most obvious.

The reason no upper limit is currently legislated for is because there are too many factors to be taken into account. I just can't see how a single figure will fit everyone. There has to be a guidance scale to suit the working environment, the task and the season. Don't put an upper limit on it but improve the guidance with recommendations better suited to each working environment.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/WAGheat/

Where can we sign the petition ?

What about outdoors temperatures as well , In construction we are working in temperatures of - 8 to +35 c . When is the government going to recognize outdoor temperatures and the fact that our workforces are working between 8 and 12 hours a day or night in these conditions . This may be a contributory factor in why there are so many injuries in construction .

I seem to recall that those who care for the very sick and infirm, [i.e. those whose bodies can no longer adequately regulate temperature,] are advised to take action when ambient temperatures reach 26 centigrade.

This advice is mainly aimed at care homes and similar settings.

A 25 Centigrade maximum for relatively healthy people at work might seem a little precautionary.

For my part, I prefer a very warm office. But even I decide retreat is the better option at 29 centigrade [this never occurs before 3.30 pm in my office] and take a couple of hours off. On hot forecast days I start at 6.00 am.