Temperature at work way too high, illegal?

LegacyUser

Hi guys,

Going unreg for this as I've mentioned where I work on my regular account.

Basically I work in an independent petrol station which is Irish owned. I started 8 months ago.

I was told by other staff member of the heat they had endured during the previous summer (right before I started).

According to the owner the air conditioning system was removed. We checked this by climbing onto the side of the roof to check and low and behold there are two air con units on top. We checked the switchboard and it seems they've removed the connectors and thats it. The owner is tight on money with two and three hour shifts (is this illegal?) and not paying properly for bank holidays.

And now with the last weeks good weather and more to come it seems this will continue until mid autumn!!!

But this one is really annoying the staff. We're sweating non stop and I cant think straight while on the till. My shirt was soaked today and I got a headache from the heat. Whats kind of hurtful too is that managment dont seem to care. We all sacrifice a lot to run the shop and give our best as a small close knit team.

The heat remains in the shop overnight with opening temperature being around 27 degrees. Today from 9am until 11pm the till area (which is encased by security glass) was at a stable 30 degrees! Customers commented on how much the staff were sweating and looking exhausted from the heat.

What can we do?

It's worth mentioning that previously, when anyone questions some of the issues in the shop their hours in the next few weeks rosters were cut considerably.

Cheers,
Guesty.

Are these conditions illegal?

Eoin

Unfortunately there's no maximum temperature, and the recommendations are very vague - including what an employer should do in this event:
http://www.lkshields.ie/htmdocs/publications/articles/pub344.htm

Opticom

This is a workplace health, safety and welfare issue

You should try having a chat with an inspector in the HSA

They have very strong inspection and enforcement powers with regard to workplace health, safety and welfare issues.

http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Contact_Us/

Contact Details
LoCall: 1890 289 389 (between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday)

martinedwards

you don't say where you are.....

unfortunately, the same applies in the North. (i've had pupils in my school asking similar questions this morning.)

I googled and there is no upper limit.

Opticom

martinedwards wrote: »

I googled and there is no upper limit.

That does not remove the duty of care and responsibility for providing a safe environment and putting in appropriate control measures, such as fans, air con etc.

There is no upper limit because high temperatures affect people differently.

Cian92

I don't think you'll get far, where I work we do heavy manual work in heats of 40C. Air conditioning wouldn't work in my workplace. We were told by health and safety that legally we are entitled to have a fan, and a water cooler. If these weren't in place - we are allowed walk off the floor.

The fans aren't really effective, they blow warm air in to your face.

Opticom

Hi guys,

The staff in this garage really aren't ones to moan and groan. We put up with a lot of issues. Closing up at 12.30 and opening back up at 7am etc...

We're a small team and we know we have to make sacrifices to keep staff numbers low and hence our hours up.

It's at a point where we're literally sweating all day. I can normally knock out a six hour shift no bother but now I'm drained halfway through even while glugging water non-stop.

I'm going to make an official request to management to fix this.

We have a fan but as the counter area is sealed off by glass with direct sunlight shining in, the greenhouse effect is occurring whereby heat rapidly builds up and stays there. The fan simply circulates hot hair.

I have a feeling that management aren't going to remedy this situation. If they don't I really can't take 4 months of this. Yesterday I felt ill from constantly drinking water and sweating it out.

At the same time I can't just leave the job. I need it.

What would you guys recommend as a next step should management fail to do something about the heat?

This is a workplace health, safety and welfare issue

You should try having a chat with an inspector in the HSA.

You won't have to give your name, and they'll give you far better advice than you'll get here.

http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Contact_Us/

Contact Details
LoCall: 1890 289 389 (between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Pacing Mule

Hi guesty,

Don't know if you realised it but you posted your reply today from your actual boards account that you did not want to reveal in the first place. You can still delete this via the edit post button if you'd prefer.