Posted By hoops Hi there 32 degrees wow at present i am strugling to keep employees happy if go out of the comfort zone of 20 - 24 degrees good luck

Posted By Les Welling The working environment is always going to be contentious issue and can never meet everybody's exacting requirements as you know. Firstly we have to meet the legislative requirements and secondly make the effort to provide a comfortable working environment with adequate provision of services in accordance with the 1992 Workplace Regulations. In order for the facilities team to manage all aspects of the environmental conditions we recently reminded staff that they were not to interfere, in any way, with the heating and air conditioning systems. These are designed to provide ambient temperature and fresh air throughout the building. Regardless of whether the minimum temperature has been reached, if the consensus is that the workplace is hot/cold, an approach should be made to facilities to increase/degrease the temperature. I would suggest that the anyone so badly affected as to suffer ill health as a result of exposure to heat/cold, should be provided with an opportunity to relocate to a less draughty/hot area. It is difficult with this hot weather, but there are ways to manage it. There are limited options available in these circumstances but it is important that as an employer we explore all of the options and record the fact. Perhaps a further risk assessment would provide an appropriate record. I recognise that this may not be the answer or provide a solution to the problem, but as I said, there are limited options available.

Posted By David O'Hara Assess your employees Thermal comfort by way of risk assessment using the 5 step approach. Have a look at the HSE website. David

Posted By Ali Difficult one as everyone has a different tolerance zone and there are different tolerances for different work activities as some work activities will produce more heat than other maybe sedentary activities.It's very individual and the assessments may have to follow this. Ali

Posted By J Knight Hi, One of our Support Services Managers did a TU H&S course a few years ago and they were told that WHO/ILO recommend a maximum of 25C; this of course is not binding in any way, John

Posted By jackw. Hi My problem with attempting to define a max temperature is what you do if you decide this is for example 30 degrees and the temp is measured at 33. Are you suggesting that everyone be sent home? production, service etc. stops. Get real industry, commerce etc. could stand the cost of such a nonsense policy.. we, like everyone have days when it is very hot and uncomfortable.. e.g. right now it's so hot in my office that the sweat is running in those unmentionable places.. I drink more fluid than usual, try and get outside for few mins every couple of hours.. same advice as i/we give staff.. and then just get on with the job. sorry if this sounds critical but i really do sometimes wonder about some of the answers/suggestions on here.. that seem to be about regs, rules etc and devoid of reality in the commercial world we operate int. Cheers