What legal rights at cold working environment.
What legal rights at cold working environment.
Author
Discussion

GC1

Original Poster:

908 posts

207 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
Ok theirs 5 guys, working in a warehouse with no heating,and no clothing provided other than a thin fleece.

We currently provide our own clothing,ie hats, gloves, ski pants etc.

The type of work is standing still,maybe sitting at a bench,not much manual labour.

Our thermoiter which I took in never gets above 10c.

What can we expect to get of the company without suturing a rats nest....?

Thanks in advance.

Eric Mc

125,341 posts

292 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
GC1 said:
Ok theirs 5 guys, working in a warehouse with no heating,and no clothing provided other than a thin fleece.

We currently provide our own clothing,ie hats, gloves, ski pants etc.

The type of work is standing still,maybe sitting at a bench,not much manual labour.

Our thermoiter which I took in never gets above 10c.
What can we expect to get of the company without suturing a rats nest....? Thanks in advance.
What's a "thermoiter"

"Suturing"? Are you surgeons?

What type of work are you doing?

Are the conditions normal for that type of work?


magpie215

5,003 posts

216 months

Fatman2

1,464 posts

196 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
Hi

I've been through this before with an employer where the temperature in an office was about the same. I'm not an expert on such matters so it's best to consult the HSE but from various sources I found this:

[i]In workplaces where the activity is mainly sedentary, for example in offices, the
temperature should normally be at least 16ºC. If the work involves physical effort, it
should normally be at least 13ºC.

These temperatures refer to readings taken using an ordinary dry bulb thermometer,
close to workstations, at working height and away from windows.[/i]

Taken from this file:

http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Attachments/Temperature...

Sadly, I don't think there are any legal limits but think your employer is legally obliged to act on any complaints or concerns.

Also look here

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

Specifically for the following file:

HSG194 - Thermal Comfort in the Workplace

I believe, if your employer is by any means caring, your raising of this issue should be met with some kind of assessment and remedial action. You can buy an HSE approved thermometer, which is a benchmark for taking measurements. If your employer fails to do anything then it's best to start recording temeratures regularly so that you can present some kind of case.

Best of luck!

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
GC1 said:
Ok theirs 5 guys, working in a warehouse with no heating,and no clothing provided other than a thin fleece.

We currently provide our own clothing,ie hats, gloves, ski pants etc.

The type of work is standing still,maybe sitting at a bench,not much manual labour.

Our thermoiter which I took in never gets above 10c.

What can we expect to get of the company without suturing a rats nest....?

Thanks in advance.
what have you asked for? (nicely)

GC1

Original Poster:

908 posts

207 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
Looking for advice that can help us get improved working conditions.

Type of work well its re-working pc's ie laptops etc...

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Monday 6th December 2010
quotequote all
GC1 said:
Looking for advice that can help us get improved working conditions.

Type of work well its re-working pc's ie laptops etc...
My question was genuine.

GC1

Original Poster:

908 posts

207 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
we've asked for heating,better clothing,our own tea making faclites ,etc

magpie215

5,003 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th December 2010
quotequote all
GC1 said:
we've asked for heating,better clothing,our own tea making faclites ,etc
sounds reasonable..management reply??

dan101smith

17,043 posts

238 months

Wednesday 8th December 2010
quotequote all
I have a vague recollection from when we had this issue in an office I worked in (heating died and temp stuck at 12 degrees).

IIRC, when it drops below 16C it is down to the employer to distribute the work such that each employee gets a "reasonable" amount of time away from their workstation and in a warmer environment.

I think there's more to it, but can't remember.

jdbecks

2,869 posts

225 months

Friday 10th December 2010
quotequote all
also depends on what your company is, if it is classified as a plant then the conidtions can be lower..But they still should provide you the correct PPE,

our guys get issued, coats, waist coats and thermal gloves

MG CHRIS

9,322 posts

194 months

Friday 24th December 2010
quotequote all
Wimps the lot of you, working in a garage with the doors open in all weathers the last 3 weeks it hasent been above 2 degrees all though i do wear 4 layers on but still really cold, the coldest it hit was -10 one day last week in work couldnt feel my hands for a long time.

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Friday 24th December 2010
quotequote all
was the OP a troll, then?

magpie215

5,003 posts

216 months

Friday 24th December 2010
quotequote all
Pothole said:
was the OP a troll, then?
no apparently it is hard to type when you are frozensmile