Employees guide

This section outlines what you can do if you think there is a problem with heat stress , thermal comfort or cold stress in your workplace. It is important for you to report these problems to your management, union or other workplace representative. It may be that you have to work with your management and fellow workers to get permission to take some of the steps below, but by working together, it is more likely that suitable, long term solutions to any problems can be found.

What can you do?

There are a number of things that you can do to improve thermal comfort in your workplace:

• add or remove layers of clothing depending on how hot or cold you are;
• use a desk or pedestal fan to increase air movement;
• use window blinds (if available) to cut down on the heating effects of the sun;
• in warm situations, drink plenty of water (avoid caffeinated or carbonated drinks);
• if possible, work away from direct sunlight or sources of radiant heat;
• take regular breaks to cool down in warm situations and heat up in cold situations.
• Raise the issue with your managers or, if you can with your union or other workplace representatives.

Although any of the actions outlined above may go some way to alleviating your thermal discomfort, there are also a number of things that your manager or employer could do to help further.

Talk to your manager, supervisor, union representative or employee representative about:

• insulating hot plant or pipes;
• providing or upgrading air cooling or air conditioning;
• including assessments of thermal risk as part of workplace risk assessments;
• introducing work systems to limit exposure, such as flexible hours or early/late starts to help avoid the worst effects of working in high temperatures;
• relaxing formal dress codes;
• moving workstations away from hot plant or out of direct sunlight.

If though after discussing the matter either with your employer directly or through your safety representative and you feel your concerns are not being addressed effectively then you should write in either to your local environmental health office or HSE.