Do you think they'll listen?

Question

Do you think they'll listen? I work in an airplane hangar for a security company.?

I sent this email to my bosses regarding the conditions in the hangar. The client has been nothing but helpful trying to resolve this problem. The problem lies with my company. Here's the email I sent:

A few weeks ago this security company sent out a paper on summer safety tips. In that paper was a section about how one should dress in the summer heat.
It is inconceivable to me that this security company would tell me how to dress outside of work and then not follow that advice while at work.
Seeing as how we are in an un-air conditioned environment at the flight center, I have asked about the possibility of getting shorts for us to wear. This has been met with nothing but resistance and answers that don't make sense, like, ask the client for an air conditioner. Where on earth do you propose they put it? There are no windows that open and the area where the desk is is not enclosed.
I put this challenge to you now.
Send someone you know and trust to the flight center, have them wear the same uniform we wear, and have them come out between 10am and 2pm any day when the temp is over 85. These uniforms were great in the colder months but they are too thick and too tightly woven to provide any relief in the summer heat.
You should also consider the health risks of our older officers. Do you or are you prepared for a lawsuit should any of the officers out here suffer from heat stroke or worse? If taking care of employees is truly the company's philosophy, you haven't proved anything to me. All I've gotten is resistance. The client has no problem with security wearing shorts.... why does this security company? The district manager told me that they would have to deal with complaints from other officers if we got to wear shorts. I guarantee if you were to tell these whiners,"Ok, we'll cut the air conditioner off at the guard house and you can wear shorts" that all complaints would cease.
Right now my pant legs are so soaked with perspiration that they are sticking to my legs.... and sweating profusely in front of visitors and employees makes, I'm sure, a lasting impression. The impression that my company cares not for the comfort, safety and health of it's officers.

Uncomfortably yours,


my name here

______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Here was the response from the lady in the nice air conditioned office:

My name here,

Yes, it is uncomfortably hot for everyone. However, officers may not wear shorts. This message has been forwarded to the account manager in order for her to check it out and get a fan or some fans for you if you don’t already have one and to make sure that you have access to plenty of water to stay hydrated.


Vice president of district's name here

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

This Saturday is the client's annual company pinic. The officers working the picnic are going to be allowed to wear shorts. I work 5 days a week in the sweltering heat and they work one day and are allowed to wear shorts. Hypocritical?

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE MECHANICS AND OTHER FLIGHT CENTER PERSONNEL ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR SHORTS.

Answer 1

Some companies do not allow shorts in the workplace due to safety reasons. Any place where an employee can be exposed to chemicals (such as fuel in the hangar) or a physical hazard, such as sheet metal or thermal burns fom an exhaust, the pants act as a layer of protection, a form of PPE.

I am an insurance risk manager and I always recommend that my clients prohibit shorts in the workplace. Aside from the liabilities posed by employees who dress inappropriately, they do help protect employees who work in many different environments.

I've attached a link to OSHAs hot weather tips site. If your employer is not complying with, or allowing you to comply with, these measures you may have a reason to complain. But it sounds more like you have a problems with your company's dress code than with the safety angle.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=12206

By the way, I'm glad you followed the advice a number of us gave you and reworded your question without company names. I also worked for the same company you did for almost two years while in college.

Answer 2

that's a shame ! Have all of you ever tried to just show up @ work in shorts all on the same day, stay in shorts while
you work & see if the boss says anything? My husband &
some of the guys he works w/ (in the garage ) did this & the boss was o.k.w/ it & never said anything to them
about it, sorry I can't help more & good luck

Answer 3

make a formal complaint to OSHA. Heat is a serious safety hazard.