sippo Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 We're probably not the only ones, but our office is our server room and the noise is now starting to get to the point where we're getting constant headaches. Its not a loud noise as such (70db) but its the constant 'hum' from the switches and servers (9 of them). We have a health and safety visit next week. Should I mention it? I've asked the head about relocating to non-used room but he said no chance. These working conditions are awful.
teejay Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Yes, mention it and also get your union H&S rep in, if you are in a union. Constant droning from servers can cause permanent damage to your hearing, it needs sorting asap.
Hawkeyez Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Yes, mention it and also get your union H&S rep in, if you are in a union. Constant droning from servers can cause permanent damage to your hearing, it needs sorting asap. We moved recently as our office was at 75db, air con was kicking out at about 18oc to keep the servers at about 28 Much better now, just got the hum of our workstations and a single (new) 3com switch. Gary
BandyQuill Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 good to know this, we have the same situation... its a large'ish' office, but we have a full rack of servers and switches and im not going to lie, its doing my nut in, that teamed with the Aircon constantly on full to keep the room cold... so every day i go home with a headache and cold hands do i need to join the local union ?
teejay Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 You should be in a union if you work in a school, full stop. There is too much that could go wrong these days that it really isn't worth not being in one. The H&S officer at the union will get it sorted out, the school really has very little option once they are involved.
webman Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Our previous office was also the server room. We didn't dare bring up the noise as a H&S issue as the preferred and cheapest solution would have been for us to wear ear protectors. 4
mattx Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Our previous office was also the server room. We didn't dare bring up the noise as a H&S issue as the preferred and cheapest solution would have been for us to wear ear protectors. Reminds me of this: http://holycrapthatsfunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hearing_protection.jpeg
Guest theeldergeek Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 These working conditions are awful. I'd swap for the hum of servers! I'm right next to where students congregate during breaks and free periods and the noise (and behaviour) is driving my stress levels through the roof! I can't even think about concentrating on a challenging task because my train of thought is shattered by ear splitting teenagers! My office has no windows and a single door which I leave open so I can breathe! I had to shut it today because I was at breaking point! I now have a pounding headache through breathing stale, computer heated air! I don't say anything because I fear for my job, but the situation has become absolutely intolerable for me. I can see me being made ill by it before long. It's a constant daily drain on my nerves. In fact, I'm going home now, early. I've had enough.
Popular Post bossman Posted December 1, 2009 Popular Post Posted December 1, 2009 @all: EH!!! you what!!! can't bl**dy hear a damn thing with this niose in the background............................................................Ahhh! that's better...................................................................Thanks webman for turning those things off..............................................................peace and quiet for once..................................................Awww bl**dy hell what now the phones are going off.............Can't bl**dy well win.............................................WEBMAN!! turn those bl**dy servers back on again the phone keeps ringing and it keeps waking me up! Yah knows I needs me beauty sleep.......................................snorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeee!!! :) 6
webman Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Yah knows I needs me beauty sleep Yer not wrong there young'un! 1
BandyQuill Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 hmmmm need to have a pester of unison (i think it is around here anyway)
Slewis Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Aye, similar conditions here, v.noisy old switches, servers, aircon... but we're due for a rebuild in just four short years, and they promise we'll get a better office then...
Sylv3r Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 Aye, similar conditions here, v.noisy old switches, servers, aircon... but we're due for a rebuild in just four short years, and they promise we'll get a better office then... If its BSF build, it will be in some posh data centre
dalsoth Posted December 1, 2009 Posted December 1, 2009 I'd swap for the hum of servers! I'm right next to where students congregate during breaks and free periods and the noise (and behaviour) is driving my stress levels through the roof! I can't even think about concentrating on a challenging task because my train of thought is shattered by ear splitting teenagers! My office has no windows and a single door which I leave open so I can breathe! I had to shut it today because I was at breaking point! I now have a pounding headache through breathing stale, computer heated air! I don't say anything because I fear for my job, but the situation has become absolutely intolerable for me. I can see me being made ill by it before long. It's a constant daily drain on my nerves. In fact, I'm going home now, early. I've had enough. Snap!! We have moved back in with the potentially ear damaging servers because of the same situation with the students. They smashed our door to our no window cupboard sized office till the concrete around the hinges flew off. Punched it, kicked it and passed racist notes about my tech under the door. When we pulled the latch across and ignored it, they climbed up on a radiator outside the door to the top internal window pane and banged on the glass laughing at us from above to wind us up. All the while i am told not to go out and confront them because it could be potentially a bad situation. When we do open the door and try to question their immature behaviour all the 6th formers bolt out the building laughing or smirk and claim they did nothing. This would happen all day and reporting it to staff got us nowhere. The SMT refused us a single little camera to catch them in the act. I can not recognise them because i don't teach and the MIS photos are next to useless because the kids look totally different. We call the "patrol" team and they fail to turn up all the time. After they were swearing at us last week for about an hour or two and two failed attempts to get patrol across i ended up calling the deputy head. Solved it on that occassion but it is pretty much a daily thing because of the location and the lack of behavior control and sanctions. Now they have to find us a new office or i will either be seeing the union about my health over the noise in the server room or be off sick with stress should they insist i go back to the cupboard office. So i can well understand your situation I suggest you email the SMT explaining everything as i have done and demand a solution. If not, go union or go sick. Hope you get it sorted. If the noise levels in your room are at a particlar amount (can't remember the exact number) say 75db and you are likely to be in there for 8 hours a day more or less give or take a few trips out then you should have ear protectors or be moved i was told. We can not hear the door knock half the time in the server room and would not be able to hear the phone with ear muffs as we can barely hear it now. Constant sore throat from shouting at the technician 5 yards away but i guess its better than braining some kid for driving me over the edge in the other room. All the while the SMT are moving staff about so they get large cushy offices to themselves and offices are turned into private post 16 study areas. What about us? We are not teachers so we don't count . They are looking into it..... 6 months in the cupboard while they looked.... a year and a half in the noisy server room before this while they looked.... I found the cupboard although i wish i hadn't now. No place better till they kick some slacker out of their palace and move em in with someone else i guess. Thus is the life of the tech.
sippo Posted December 10, 2009 Author Posted December 10, 2009 We had our health and safety visit today. What was pointed out to me: - Not a nice environment to work in. They wouldn't like to work in it for more than 20 mins. - Server room is noisy. - Air quality is poor These are the best bits. - Its like sitting on an airplane. - so we are renaming the office to the Virgin Atlantic Suite. - Get some plants to help with the air quality. But you're not allowed to water them due to health and safety regs!
webman Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 - Its like sitting on an airplane. - so we are renaming the office to the Virgin Atlantic Suite. So every day is like a holiday! Yey!! - Get some plants to help with the air quality. But you're not allowed to water them due to health and safety regs! Best make those plastic ones then!
fafster Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 My office is fairly long, so where I'm sitting the noise is about 58dB. Anyone with an Android phone, download the Tricorder app. It's aces!
webman Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Anyone with an Android phone, download the Tricorder app. It's aces! Beam me up, Scotty.
IanT Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 I have a big office all to my self, 3 big racks, im next to the window though, get some fresh air.
stevenwba Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 least you guys have an office im currently based in the computer suite!
sidewinder Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 We have moved back in with the potentially ear damaging servers because of the same situation with the students. They smashed our door to our no window cupboard sized office till the concrete around the hinges flew off. Punched it, kicked it and passed racist notes about my tech under the door. When we pulled the latch across and ignored it, they climbed up on a radiator outside the door to the top internal window pane and banged on the glass laughing at us from above to wind us up. All the while i am told not to go out and confront them because it could be potentially a bad situation. When we do open the door and try to question their immature behaviour all the 6th formers bolt out the building laughing or smirk and claim they did nothing. This would happen all day and reporting it to staff got us nowhere. . I'm sorry, but regardless of what I'd been told, I would have been out there politely telling them to f off! Do you think the head would sit there taking that? Or any teacher for that matter? No. Though your school sounds awful! There are some nightmare kids here but nothing to that extent!
BlogRat Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 Big office, plenty of room storage and work space. seperate server room full aircon. BSF, don't you just love it....best thing that ever happened.
dalsoth Posted December 10, 2009 Posted December 10, 2009 I'm sorry, but regardless of what I'd been told, I would have been out there politely telling them to f off! Do you think the head would sit there taking that? Or any teacher for that matter? No. Though your school sounds awful! There are some nightmare kids here but nothing to that extent! Was told i would be sacked in the past if i even tried to defend myself from physically aggressive students. Something that i would love to see them try should it ever happen. Well we are getting a new office now after my many complaints. The students from the other room (6th formers) followed us back to the noisy server room and tried to continue their fun for the last week or so. Caught them banging on the door and running off downstairs and then making animal noises at us as we came down from the office. I made sure to remember their faces this time by spending a moment or so looking at each one as they sat there swearing and i walked up and explained what i was doing calmly. They did not like this and one tried to threaten me a few times. I then fetched the SLT and had them rounded up as they all tried to bolt. Had plenty of f words thrown at me in front of the SLT etc.. I think the main guy was given a day removed from other students but not sure of any other punishments. Sad really how these kids learn that crime pays. Anyroad, i will have a new office in a few weeks, perhaps after xmas and will ensure i get a cctv camera put up outside when they do it up for me. If the governors see what the kids get up to i don't think management can ignore it like they usually do.
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