Feel the Heat? HSE guidlines

[Flakes]

Ive seen a few threads pop up already about the rising temperature today, i was going to reply to them but decided this needed its own thread.

 

Just so you are all aware there are guidlines in place for when you are working in a room that is too hot, take a look at this check-list HSE - Thermal comfort: Measuring thermal comfort if you can tick more than two you may have a case.

 

If you are not sure if your room is too hot then ask the people you work with if a certain percent are uncomfortable at the temperature then there is a problem you should take up with your employer, the percentages are different depending on the room conditions, please see below:

 

Air conditioned offices - Are more than 10% of employees complaining of being too hot or too cold?

 

Naturally ventilated offices - Are more than 15% of employees complaining of being too hot or too cold?

 

Retail businesses, warehouses, factories and all other indoor environments that may not have air conditioning - Are more than 20% of employees complaining of being too hot or too cold?

 

(source: HSE - Thermal comfort: Step 1: Identify the hazards )

 

also make sure you are not suffering one of the following:

 

 

• an inability to concentrate;
  

 

• muscle cramps;
  

 

• heat rash;
  

 

• severe thirst - a late symptom of heat stress;
  

 

• heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin;
  

 

• heat stroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage.
  

 

see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis1.pdf for more info.

 

please remember to take regular breaks when working in heat

 

P.S

 

i am currently working in an office with only a skylight and a temperature of 29C its not fun, and i feel really sweaty ugh.

Edited May 21, 2010 by Flakes

[OutToLunch]

HSE site has improved a bit - it used to amount to "If you get too cold, employer must provide gear to keep you warm, if you get too hot, tough." - thankfully finally properly air conditioned in here now but have filed those links for all the other office drones dying of heatstroke on this side of the building!