The Law At Work

[TommyAllum16]

Since February, I have been working at a retail store which often takes a minimum of �100000 a week, during the past three months i have been working in very uncomfortable conditions due to an air conditioning fault which is 'a company issue', the company i feel hasn't done a lot to try to combat this. We regularly work in very hot and stuffy conditions with only hired industrial fans which hardly work and with the recent hot weather we have been put to the test. Does anyone know if there is a legal temperature that we can work to and if this company is breaking the law, then what can we do about it?

[thewillow]

Thre is no maximum temperature stated in the regulations. However, the guidance notes state: 'An acceptable zone of thermal comfort for most people in the UK lies roughly between 13�C (56�F) and 30�C (86�F), with acceptable temperatures for more strenuous work activities concentrated towards the bottom end of the range, and more sedentary activities towards the higher end." Get onto your union and, if you're not in one, join one.

[rekstout]

I remember a problem we had many years ago in an office and we found out at the time that the law is vague - the health and safety at work act stipulates a minimum temperature but not a maximum but that the environment must be reasonable. If it is that bad then I would suggest making feelings clear to management - perhaps pointing out that if staff are sweaty looking and the store is too hot the customers are far less likely to shop or queue for payment/dressing rooms. Appeals to bottom lines tend to have more weight that legal threats and would look better than simply moaning staff. If it somes to it you could speak to the Health and Safey Executive (yellow pages) but I would urge you to only consider this as a last resort.

[Mattk]

im sure under european law that there are min and max temps for work conditions but what they are i know not !

[secretspirit]

In my office - which is the portacabin style beloved of schools - last summer it regularly got up to 35 degrees celcius and this year has already got up to 29. Despite many complaints we are always told there is no legal limit for the top temperature and have found that portable air con units and fans do little to ease the heat. I think that however uncomfortable it is those of us who work in these conditions have no rights at all and the only way forward is to nag management for better conditions.

[Kev_UK]

OMG, sounds like a bunch of americans here whinging about the heat.. no air conditioning LOL. In the UK air conditioning means opening a window. Try working in a pottery, in the clay industry (hot kilns), bakery, or down the coal mines. Then you will know what hot means and heavy physical work.

[secretspirit]

Er no, I'm British born & bred. I'm not normally a complainer but if you have to work 8 hours a day in a room that is routinely in summer about 30deg and there is literally NO air circulation it makes the most stiff upper lipped person make a few muttered complaints.

[secretspirit]

Sorry to add more, but although I now work in an office I have worked in a hot kitchen whilst doing food prep, as a waitress and in a shop so I do know the meaning of hard work!

[BenDToy]

How on earth did we cope before air conditioning was common ie 20 years ago?

[madjack]

look in section 1 health and safety at work act 1974, employers are responsible for the physical well being of staff. Also check the factories act for relevent safe working temperatures