Medical theatre teams work within operating theatres that are 'hot'. There is no upper temperature stipulation. Risk assessing the situation is not workable as every procedure contains varying challenges and complications that can ultimately cause error and be life threatening for the patient. Introducing an arbitrary maximum temperature could introduce more rather than less risks as theatres could simply stop conducting life saving procedures. H&S guidance appreciates keeping staff comfortable to assist with their engagement but without the same clear guidance that we have for minimum temperatures 'comfortable' is down to feelings rather than factual temperature data. Leaving humidity aside is there anything formal that can be used as a temperature enforceable stipulation for unnaceptability. A local policy will not work as it does not have the weight of an H&S requirement. A Union or other guide has the same problem. Ultimately the consultant will make clinical decisions to ensure the patient is protected but they feel unsupported and weight of legislation guides pressure to spend money and improve the environment.

Is this a question or statement?

Why can’t you use risk assessment - a dynamic approach for each patient and each operation? Surely that is what you do already but you might not call it that.  

AndrewM., I am surprised that modern medical theatre teams have to put up with heat stress.  I have some little experience of working with both the UK and US forces in Iraq and England under tents, but filtered air conditioning and heating was always considered a priority, especially with US forces, who basically suspend use until aircon is working.  Surly there must be official guidance from NICE on theatre practices?  Heat and humidity effects healing - the patient comes first.  

You can always risk assess. You are doing it in your message. All you need to do is find suitable solutions and controls for your particular activity/task.

If as you say thermal discomfort is a risk, and your employees are complaining and/or reporting illnesses that may be caused by the thermal environment, then you should review the situation and if necessary implement appropriate controls to manage the risks.

For this you may require specific specialist advice for your workplace to control, for example: heat stress and dehydration. The specialist in liaison with you and your team should consider:

• the thermal conditions may need to be monitored and where possible recorded as part of your risk management programme
• health surveillance or medical screening may be required for staff. This is particularly relevant when working in temperature extremes. Medical advice should be sought if necessary
• working habits and current practices need to be reviewed periodically and (where necessary) changed, to control the risks

The following link may assist with providing useful information:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/

I hope this helps.

Steve

like your idea I might have something to work with.

'adapted an external flag system used by the US military to just show the teams the risk levels based on the WBGT...it just helped them understand the individual risk but not that for the patient...which helped with adding softer controls.  Don't know that it will help as we are in temporary not fixed theatres most of the time...but air changes have been increased as a result of hitting Red and Black..

82-84.9 - Green  (<29)

85-87 - Yellow (<30.5)

88-89 - Red (<31.5) Call for increased air changes

Above 89 - Black. (+31.5) Record as under duress

I have worked in operating theatres in the past and they tend to be very stuffy and arid environments. They are quite warm but as they are not very humid the temperatures can get quire high before they become uncomfortable. Yours’s must be very hot to be that difficult to work in.

I am still not sure what exactly you want: Health and Safety law simply requires the temperature to be reasonable, taking into account various factors. Establishing what is reasonable is what the risk assessment does. You though have rejected the idea of risk assessment and seem to want definitive values. Is this something that you want to present to management to force their hand to do something about the way the temperature is controlled in the theatres? It is only by looking at the controls (the BEMS?) that you will be able to improve the situation. As you say a purely local solution such as fans or other cooling devices will be unacceptable for infection control reasons. How is the temperature managed in the theatres?