Too hot in my office..

goodgirl80

Hi there, I don't know if others out there suffer like this. On any non-freezing day my office is at least 30 degrees C. I have an air cooler, two fans and the windows open. Is there any more I can do? What are the legal requirements of an employer to provide comfortable working environments?

tsimehC

There are no high temperature limit unlike cold temperature afaik. I didn't have any of those things you mentioned when I worked in a + 30 degree office few summers back but it made the day unbearable. Perhaps consider cooling your feet and neck, that is pretty much what I did.

goodgirl80

I could put a bowl of water under my desk I guess

wombles_forever

tsimehC is correct. There are no upper temperature limits I'm afraid, only lower limits.

All you can do is make sure you drink plenty of water and wear cotton or linen cloths if possible. Keep using the fans as well

When I was a manager and the temperature got too high (no A/C and company was not interested) I used to make my staff ice lollies and keep them in the freezer compartment of the fridge to help keep them cool.

Can't see that happening these days.:)

GothicStirling

You should try working in a kitchen!

Evilm

Unfortunately, as already said above, there are no upper limits for heat in the office.

The only thing I can suggest is to see if there is a point in the office that is cooler/less humid and see if you could change desk assignments to work there instead. Its unlikely but perhaps its worth a try? I know I'm lucky as my desk is right in the middle of the office and away from the windows so I don't feel the heat like the people near the windows.

The old trick we used to do when we were kids was to freeze 500ml bottles of squash so that they thawed through the day and were always cool. (This is making me feel old now!).

The other thing i do do to mitigate humidity/sweatiness is to wear a "dri-fit" cycling top under my blouse/work top. Because the cycling top is "keep dry" fabric it makes me feel happier through the day and suffer less.

EDIT: I have just found this: http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/step1.htm If more than 10% of the employees are complaining then your bosses should conduct a thermal survey.

Barneysmom

I still do that now Evilm :cool:
I freeze cranberry juice and by mid-afternoon it's just right for drinking.

fairydiamond

Ask your employer to do something. If they don't do anything, faint. Then they will do something.

dickydonkin

GothicStirling wrote: »

You should try working in a kitchen!

Absolutely!

I don't wish to trivialise thermal discomfort of people working in offices, but really!

What about catering, bakery and foundry workers?

Now those jobs are in hot working environments.

The findings of a risk assessment in a hot office situation will likely recommend improved ventilation or air conditioning - whether the employer will deem those actions as 'reasonably practicable' in these difficult economic times would remain to be seen.

Others on this thread seem to have accepted their situation and taken their own remedial action - and lets face it, we hardly ever have a long drawn out summer here in the UK.

GothicStirling

dickydonkin wrote: »

Absolutely!

I don't wish to trivialise thermal discomfort of people working in offices, but really!

What about catering, bakery and foundry workers?

Now those jobs are in hot working environments.

The findings of a risk assessment in a hot office situation will likely recommend improved ventilation or air conditioning - whether the employer will deem those actions as 'reasonably practicable' in these difficult economic times would remain to be seen.

Others on this thread seem to have accepted their situation and taken their own remedial action - and lets face it, we hardly ever have a long drawn out summer here in the UK.

I had a shower this morning, worked a 4 hour shift and had to jump back into the shower as soon as I got home. The sweat was literally lying on the shirt. Yeuch!

MoneySavingMamma

I'm just here to agree with the kitchen posts, not only is it boiling hot with basic ventilation (you can't have the windows wide open - bugs getting in)
you have to run around and deal with the stress of orders while wearing clothes that cover your legs & armpits! HOT!!

I previously worked in a department store with broken AC, only after a staff member fainted did we get portable fans! They didn't do much, just made it slightly less unbearable but they still didn't bother fixing the AC