Min Temp at Work?

Mags_cat

aaroncaz wrote: »

Thanks, I have gloves too, with some rubber bits on them, am getting quiet good at using them! I just wonder why there is a min temp regulation:

Regulation 7 of these Regulations deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that:

When companies are not complying by them:mad: also where I work, the staff that have been there for a few years don't complain, either they have given up or don't want to rock the boat! There must be someone to report them too?? Not one member of mangement asked today if we were ok, or to go and get a hot drink, which you should do!!:mad:

If you've got a health and safety issue in your workplace (which is a retail premises) that you can't get resolved you need to get in touch with your local authority's health and safety team. They enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act in shops.

You can make a complaint anonymously if you want to. What they do to investigate will vary, but if you give them your contact details they should tell you the outcome.

dickydonkin

There are many factors to consider in relation to the 'thermal comfort' of workers - not just the actual temperature.

I suspect (as many workplaces don't) that the company has not carried out a welfare assessment which would identify any requirements or shortcomings, however, the company should provide you with thermometers as it s likely the first question asked (if you take the enforcement route) is what the actual temperature is.

Remember, some peoples perception of temperature varies - although I am not suggesting that the OPs workplace is or is not meeting the regulations suggested temperature -and remember it is an 'approved code of practice' - as is the provision of thermometers.

Plushchris

If its a retail place then why dont you get some "complaints from customers" going?

I'm sure between you, your friends and family there can be some letters sent?

scooby088

I have worked by loading bays for years and you do become hardened to the temperatures in winter, just need to wrap up warm, but then there's a double edge sword as when you work you sweat and then you stop for a bit and the sweat goes cold leaving you oopen for all sorts of nasty colds.

It's normally down to costs, but the company i worked for provided us with fleece coats and gloves to keep us warm.

dickydonkin

Plushchris wrote: »

If its a retail place then why dont you get some "complaints from customers" going?

I'm sure between you, your friends and family there can be some letters sent?

I wonder what type of 'retail place' it is as this would also need to be factored in.

For example, you would not wish to have perishable goods sold in an environment not conducive to those products - ie heaters blasting out all over the place where meat or fish is sold openly.

Many DIY stores which have open areas can also be affected by cold, although the bigger ones usually have suffficient heating, but in the timber/masonry/cement storage areas, these tend to be colder.

As I alluded to earlier in the thread, it just simply isn't a case of HAVING to be a specific temperature, but there are also many other considerations.

Something to think about before going down the Local Authority route.

It's normally down to costs, but the company i worked for provided us with fleece coats and gloves to keep us warm.

And scooby088 has provided a perfect example of what a good employer should do where temperatures within a loading area cannot be realistically maintained all year round. Yes, the temperature may go below 13 degrees, but by providing suitable clothing (which may also need to comply with PPE regulations), and a 'warm area' as a refuge, these actions can mitigte any significant fall in temperature.

tizerbelle

scooby088 wrote: »

but then there's a double edge sword as when you work you sweat and then you stop for a bit and the sweat goes cold leaving you oopen for all sorts of nasty colds.

Unless you are talking about hypothermia, being cold does not give you a cold! Colds are caused by bacteria/viruses.

To the OP, you really need to get a thermometer sorted and will need to record the temperature at your workstation, a number of times a day for a number of days if you want to be able to evidence to your employer that there is a problem. You can not just say I feel cold.

Oldernotwiser

14% is hardly freezing!

MrsManda

Two things which you need to do before making a complaint to any H&S organisation/department:

Have a record of actual temperatures
Speak to your employer

There's no point in saying that your company is not complying with H&S regulations if you have not checked the temperature and you have not provided your employer with a record of the temperature and spoken to them about your concerns.

cally6008

My boss won't mention anything to her bosses as she says they cant actually do anything about the temperature in our workplace due to shop layout and a ceiling tile missing that cant be replaced as they dont make that sort anymore.

We've recorded the temperature being as low as 5c last winter.

Staff regularly wear two trousers, two socks, two t-shirts, jacket/cardy type item plus uniform fleece and also gloves (depending who's on and how cold it is)

shikoku

This time last year I was working in a very cold office, to rub salt into the wound I was sitting right in front of a wall heater which did not work.

The (repellent) team leader also had a heater behind him but he only ever turned it on long enough to warm himself up and then it went off again.

So we all swaddled up in layers (and bought new jumpers!) including coats and fingerless gloves only for the employer to suddenly introduce a 'uniform' consisting of a nasty synthetic polo shirt, accompanied by a wafer thin *so called* fleece both with the company logo (god knows why this chav outfit was deemed smart!) which added up to no warmth whatsoever between them.

At this point I was obliged to further invest in thermal undies!

Although I very much resented the expense at the time I'm now quite pleased to already have lots of chunky jumpers and thermals to wear now that I am not working.

And the company in question has vanished, serve them right!