Not allowed to have air curtains on at work and very cold.

briskbeats

I work at a supermarket and mainly spend my time in the kiosk which is a few metres from the entrance.  Due to covid, the managers aren't allowed to switch on the air curtains (the warm air coming from the vents above the door). It's pretty cold there. Last winter, we had restrictions in customer numbers so either security or a colleague went to the doors to get the automatic doors to let customers in. That kept the temp OK. Now there's no restrictions, customers can come and go. So doors are opened more. It's cold in the checkout area too. Yet been to about three shops in the area and they have their air curtains on. If they can have theirs on, why can't we? The size of the largest shop of these is about a tenth of ours (guessing).

I dread to think what will happen if we have a very cold winter and/or very windy one. My colleagues and I are already wearing plenty of layers and still are cold. Worried that my asthma will be worsened due to this. Seeing the asthma nurse for a yearly review in a few days time and raise my concerns there. I am already on a written warning for my absence - due to chest infection and stress.

What can we do?

Grumpy_chap

briskbeats said:

I work at a supermarket and mainly spend my time in the kiosk which is a few metres from the entrance.  Due to covid, the managers aren't allowed to switch on the air curtains (the warm air coming from the vents above the door). It's pretty cold there. Last winter, we had restrictions in customer numbers so either security or a colleague went to the doors to get the automatic doors to let customers in. That kept the temp OK. Now there's no restrictions, customers can come and go. So doors are opened more. It's cold in the checkout area too. Yet been to about three shops in the area and they have their air curtains on. If they can have theirs on, why can't we? The size of the largest shop of these is about a tenth of ours (guessing).

I dread to think what will happen if we have a very cold winter and/or very windy one. My colleagues and I are already wearing plenty of layers and still are cold. Worried that my asthma will be worsened due to this. Seeing the asthma nurse for a yearly review in a few days time and raise my concerns there. I am already on a written warning for my absence - due to chest infection and stress.

What can we do?

If they have risk assessed that the air curtains are not suitable, have they risk assessed the required temperature and how that can be met through alternative heating?  Could a simple fan-heater or radiant heater be located in the kiosk?

Bradden

Have you spoken to your line manager about your concerns?

Manxman_in_exile

Do what the two previous posters have suggested and ask management.  It might sound daft, but perhaps they've simply forgotten to turn them back on, and need to be reminded.  Certainly all the supermarkets I use are back to pre-Covid "normal".

Of course it may have saved them a lot of money and they've decided to keep them off until somebody points out it's too cold.  (I assume there needs to be a minimum temperature in your work environment).

Ask your union.  If you aren't in one, find a colleague who is and ask them to raise it.

NCC1701-A

Wear thermals?

Think of the carbon your managers are saving as well.

TBagpuss

Talk to your managers.

They may be able to make changes , whether that is by providing some form of heating in the kiosk or other accommodations such as allowing you to wear warmer clothes than normal, or having people work in the kiosk for shorter periods at a time so no-one is there for hours at a time.
If you believe that there is a medical issue you may be able to ask for a specific accommodation not to work at that station yourself.

It may be that your air curtains are different or your management more careful than other local shops - they may have made a different assesment of risk than others but that doesn't mean they are wrong, and the type of system (for instance, how the air is drawn in and filtered) will make a difference to the risk

NBLondon

Manxman_in_exile said:

(I assume there needs to be a minimum temperature in your work environment).

https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/law.htm  suggests 16 degrees C as minimum

Bradden

Working in a kiosk would probably count as physical labour so 13 degrees.

Health and safety regulations state that the temperature of all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable, with a recommended minimum of 16°C or 13°C if employees are doing physical work. Your employer must also provide enough thermometers for you to measure the temperature.

Savvy_Sue

Manxman_in_exile said:

Ask your union.  If you aren't in one, find a colleague who is and ask them to raise it.

better yet, if you're not in a union, join! 

General_Grant

Bradden said:

Working in a kiosk would probably count as physical labour so 13 degrees.

Health and safety regulations state that the temperature of all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable, with a recommended minimum of 16°C or 13°C if employees are doing physical work. Your employer must also provide enough thermometers for you to measure the temperature.

Whilst it might involve standing rather than sitting, I doubt it would count as the type of physical work which justifies 13 deg C.  Working in a warehouse unloading stock probably would but serving people from a kiosk inside a supermarket isn't like that.

Apintplease

Seriously every year, under ever name you have had on here, you complain about the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer working in a shop

Where I work, today it was 5oC by lunchtime, 1oC at 7am when I started, oh and the loading bay doors were open all day. Thing is I know its going to be cold and I dress accordingly

Today It was a body warmer over my polo shirt ( uniform ) and cardi , plastic bags over my feet before putting the wellies on and the usual woolly gloves under the marigolds. Other then the hands it was manageable and the body warmer was taken off, but we all keep a spare pair of gloves on the office rad keeping warm to change into very couple of hours

Come the winter we will get space heaters which will keep the factory above freezing and the thermals will go on. Its amazing how warm thermals keep you - even the cheaper ones - and they add no bulk to your clothing. Im assuming you wear trousers and polo shirt type uniform from the description of your shop? Pair of tights , pair of thermals and two pairs of socks - one thin cotton next to the skin, thicker ones over the top, a thermal vest and you will notice a huge difference. Fingerless gloves are a godsend as well.

Regular hot drinks and a hot meal at lunchtime - even if its a cup of coup helps keep the spirits up

As for your asthma , you need to go and see your GP if you are having to use your inhaler more often then usual.