Question on workplace - heat

GoneShootin

Would an employee have any grounds under law to complain about in working in what only could be described as a fridge? The heating has been off for the best part of 10 days with no sign of it getting fixed. Particularly in these cold days, is it up the employee to wear a jacket, or up to the employer to provide comfortable working conditions?

Oh and this ain't my workplace - just wanna get that out there.

hobochris

I'm not sure if its law or not, but I worked for a place before with a similar situation.office got so cold they had to send people home until it was fixed.
not sure if it was law or company policy but I'd check with citizens advice...

michael_23

I vaguely remember studying something in college related to this. I think the health, safety and welfare at work act entitles an employee to a healthy and safe working environment and conditions, which includes sufficient light and heat.

chin_grin

From here

http://www.hsa.ie/eng/FAQs/Workplace_Conditions/

Is there a maximum temperature for an office?
This is covered by Guidance Section 7 of new General Applications Regulations 2007.
There is no maximum temperature stated under the regulations but as a guideline a minimum comfortable working temperature for indoor sedentary workers is 17.5 degrees centigrade.

I'm very close to putting gloves on! Fr...f.r.....fr....freezing!

SheroN

Opposite in here, I wish they'd turn the heat down.

niceirishfella

GoneShootin wrote: »

Would an employee have any grounds under law to complain about in working in what only could be described as a fridge? The heating has been off for the best part of 10 days with no sign of it getting fixed. Particularly in these cold days, is it up the employee to wear a jacket, or up to the employer to provide comfortable working conditions?

Oh and this ain't my workplace - just wanna get that out there.

I'm sure its a lot colder in the dole Q?:rolleyes:
Consider yourself covered in a warm blanket of employment and a hot milky wage @ the end of the week.

gerrycollins

your employer is responsible for providing a safe clean working environment. this would include heat etc but if something is broken and they are making every possible effort to repair it then get some thermal underwear.

they could hire out heaters but an addtional cost which I know most cant afford

brightspark

The answer is Yes there is a legal obligation for a minimum temperature in "some" workplaces

see Part 1 section 7 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. S.I. No. 299 of 2007

General_Application_Regulations_2007.pdf

Room temperature.
7. (1) An employer shall ensure that—
(a) during working hours, the temperature in rooms containing workstations is
appropriate for human beings, having regard to the working methods being used and
the physical demands placed on the employees,
(b) for sedentary office work, a minimum temperature of 17.5°C, so far as is reasonably
practicable, is achieved and maintained at every workstation after the first hour’s
work,
11
(c) for other sedentary work, at every workstation where a substantial proportion of the
work is done sitting and does not involve serious physical effort, a minimum
temperature of 16°C is, so far as is reasonably practicable, achieved and maintained
after the first hour’s work,
(d) means are available to enable persons at work to measure the temperature in any
workplace inside a building,
(e) the temperature in rest areas, rooms for duty staff, sanitary facilities, canteens and
first-aid rooms is appropriate to the particular purpose of such areas, and
(f) in relation to windows, skylights and glass partitions, excessive effects of sunlight
are avoided in places of work, having regard to the nature of the work and the
characteristics of the place of work.
(2) The temperature referred to in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) shall be a dry bulb temperature
taken at the working position of the employee at 1.1 m above the floor surface.
(3) Where, due to process requirements, a workplace temperature below 16°C is necessary,
the employer shall assess the risks and take any necessary measures to ensure the safety,
health and welfare of the employer’s employees.

But the phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable" would mean that the employer, as long as he was doing all he could to get the system repaired, would be within the law. (however if he has just switched it off to save a few Euro then he wouldn't be!)


Given the current economic climate is also chilly, I would suggest that the employer allow people to wear warm clothing, be allowed to have plenty of warm drinks etc and maybe to hire/borrow some alternative heaters until the system is repaired if possible. (If you force the employer to send you home until the heating is fixed, you might not have a workplace to come back to!)

Newaglish

niceirishfella wrote: »

I'm sure its a lot colder in the dole Q?:rolleyes:
Consider yourself covered in a warm blanket of employment and a hot milky wage @ the end of the week.

I wish people would stop using this as an excuse for any adverse working conditions.

"My boss is sexually harrassing me! He told me I'd be fired if I didn't sleep with him!

Well honey, be glad you have a boss to sleep with"

DanGlee

I have the same problem. Its feckin freezin in our office and it takes until about 2 or 3pm to warm up... and then its nearly home time.

I come in early, so there has been no heaters on all night and nobody in the office, so its frosty, but when I turn the air con on to 28c (which it takes ages to go to) people start whinging about it. They they say its too warm. Admittedly i'm a cold person, but I'm sat here now with a shirt, jumper, thermal leggins, trousers, tracksuit top, duffel coat, fingerless gloves and a scarf and i'm still frozen! Other people are wandering around in they coats also!

And there is one guy who says that even when I turn it up to 28c, it never actually goes upto 28c? whats the point of having that option then? If left the air con would actually blow out cold air, its some joke!

Brrrrr.....

niceirishfella

Newaglish wrote: »

I wish people would stop using this as an excuse for any adverse working conditions.

"My boss is sexually harrassing me! He told me I'd be fired if I didn't sleep with him!

Well honey, be glad you have a boss to sleep with"

Why not head down to Limerick this Morning and spout this to the 1,900 people who love their livihoods.
and please, blowjobs V' being a bit cold does not stack up. Wear a coat,scarf and gloves FFS.