Is there a law on how hot it can be in your work place, I work in an office and the a/c is not working,?

Answer 1

For the 30th time.
No there is no law. THere is only laws covering coldness

Answer 2

It seems from the answers that there isn't a law, and these people seem well informed, as far as I know the employer has a duty of care to provide a safe and healthy working environment. If you are likely to suffer heat exhaustion and they have not taken preventative measures, you could probably get off work during this hot weather. However, if they allow you to dress down, provide cold water and put fans on, they have probably done their bit for due dilligence. I know that my daughter's school is not teaching today and has told pupils to stay home for health and safety reasons, but that the teachers are still having to go in, even though they cannot teach, so it would seem there probably isn't a law.

Answer 3

Great Question! I mean GREAT!

In today's working world, many offices have air conditioning to keep the computers cool.

I used to work in an office building on Madison Ave. and 42 nd. St. N.Y.

They had two floors.

One for computers, one for about 500 workers.

When the energy crisis was going on in the mid 1970's, only the floor with the computers was allowed to have the a.c.

If people united (again) to fight for better working conditions, maybe something could be done about this.

I feel in time, no offices will have any a.c. as energy costs skyrocket and eat into profits.

We'll all be back to fresh air again.

(Like they did a hundred years ago.)

Answer 4

There is a legal minimum indoor temperature: 13oC (55oF) for those doing strenuous work, 16oC (61oF) for those behind a desk. But there is no equivalent if it gets too hot – which is farcical and dangerous, according to the Trades Union Congress

The TUC is calling for a maximum working temperature of 30 degrees celsius, or 27 degrees celsius for those doing strenuous work. Workers whose exposure to heat cannot be reduced should be provided with adequate breaks and offered job rotation, it suggests.

"Extreme heat can be just as dangerous as extreme cold. While there is no legal maximum working temperature, Britain's workers are not protected from sweatshop conditions," TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said.

Answer 5

Unfortunately there is only legislation regarding the minimum temperature. The HSE set guidance as to how hot, but it is just a guide, not governable.

I know exactly how you feel - air con in my office is down too.

Unfotunatly 2 women in the adjoining cubicle have been moaning about the cold!!! While I was wandering about yesterday in the most flesh-bearing clothes I could find, and my colleague and I were almost passing out in the heat (and this is in Scotland!!!), one of them was wearing trousers and a mohair cardigan - and still complaining about cold!

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrggghhh!

Answer 6

OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has certain guidelines for how workplaces be maintained in order to provide a safe and healthy work environment for its employees.

If you feel that your work place is not providing adequate means of cooling the environment (a/c, fans, windows, etc..) then you can file a complaint with OSHA. Document any health problems relating from the environment, and if OSHA finds the complaint valid they will send your company a letter, basically forcing them to amend the situation in a set amount of time before they will come in and investigate.

Answer 7

Here in England there is apparantly a law that if in school it goes below 16 degrees celcius then the kids get to go home but i heard that it went as low as 12 dgrees before and we still didn't go home so we were breaking the law!

Answer 8

Well if there is my superiors would be in prison,im working in afghanistan at the moment and when i return to our base the rooms have no air con,and the temperatures soar into the 50s during the day,i feel sorry for you,seriously...

Answer 9

I would imagine if it is so hot that you are in danger of overheating, they would close. Is there anyway you could take your work home? Maybe your boss hasn't thought of that. Phones can be forwarded, stay in touch through the computer, etc

Answer 10

There is no maximun legal working temperature, only a minimum, Sorry know how you feel, my office is hot too.