Working Indoors in High Temperatures

[blindfreddy]

Today, we have staff sitting in a multi-story city buildings with an outside air temperature of 44 degrees celsius! Two buildings have experienced air-conditioning breakdown and have internal temperatures of around 30 degrees.

The dilemma is whether to close down for the day (we may still have 4 or 5 working days at these temperatures) or to manage the heat in a different way. At the moment, management approach is to say "assess the risk to health" and determine strategies on this basis. (i.e. have staff move out to different buildings IF space exists and forward their phones). It would be almost impossible to work effectively over a long period at these temperatures, but the nature of some business areas is such that public accessibility is critical.

Does anyone have some suggested strategies?

[certainage]

As much as you want to keep services going, staff can't be expected to work under these conditions. However, any risk assesment should also include the risk of staff having to make their way home in the heat of the day.

I'm pretty certain I'm in the same "locale" and the weather was a record for the last 70 years or something of that order. Public transport was mayhem with trains breaking down, lines buckling and busses struggling to keep up with the load. I would not be wanting to deal with this in the hottest parts of the day.

Where I am, similar weather is expected for a week. Building owners and building managers just have to get their act together!

Check out the attached picture for a poetic reflection on climate.

This sums up the heat issue nicely!

aussie_poem.JPG (55.62 KiB) Viewed 350 times

[smilly00]

Hello
Those who must work outdoors in high temperatures—or indoors where processes or inadequate air-conditioning create a steamy hot environment—see a different side of summertime than most. Because heat can cause a range of ailments from discomfort to death, it's essential that your workers, and their supervisors, understand the risks and how to protect against them. That means with summer on your doorstep and the temperatures already starting to soar, this is the right time to arrange some "hot" safety training. You'll want to explain the possible health hazards of working in the heat, along with precautions for avoiding illness and basic first aid if a co-worker succumbs to the heat.

Heed these hot tips for keeping workers cool. To protect workers in hot environments, OSHA recommends that you take these essential actions:

* Consider a worker's physical fitness to work in a hot environment.
* Have employees work in pairs to reduce stress and so that they can keep an eye on each other's physical condition.
* Provide easy access to a supply of safe drinking water and encourage workers to drink plenty of water throughout their shift.
* Avoid scheduling the heaviest work on the hottest days or at the hottest time of the day.
* Alternate work and rest periods in very hot weather, making sure workers have a cool, shady place to take their breaks.
* Monitor temperatures and worker responses on a regular basis.
* Train workers to recognize and treat the signs of heat-related illness.