Work and the temperatures this week

1664kronenbourg

1664kronenbourg

1664kronenbourg

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This week I've had to walk to work, work in a cold shop then walk one in 0c or oc- temperatures (5- tonight and that was after working in a cold shop al afternoon). Not everybody can drive/catch a bus to work and some of us have to walk to work, work ina cold shop and walk home in the zero/zero minus degrees. Anybody know what the lgal maximum temperature is before we can be sent home (of course certain jobs require people to work in the temperatures we've been having this week don't they?).
But on the plus side, at least my drinks're still cold as I'm walking home.
Anybody else on here had to walk to/from work in the cold this week?
 
In most cases there is an undefined expectation for the employer to be *reasonable* when it comes to temperatures - with a few suggestions of minimums of 16C and 13C for certain circumstances. Though potentially hard to prove against the employer, something few seem aware of is there is also an expectation for them to be reasonable when it comes to commuting in extreme weather and that should the employee express concerns but they still compel them to come in the employer both individually and as a company can be held liable should something happen.

It has been some years since I've walked to work in sub-zero temperatures but dressed appropriately it isn't a big deal in this country - unless it is properly icy underfoot which can pose some challenges.

Lopéz said:

Temperature in the workplace: Is it too cold or hot to work? - HSE

In offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable.
www.hse.gov.uk www.hse.gov.uk

The commuting element is not your employer's problem though.
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Actually to a degree it is - there were changes made a few years back now which can make the employer liable in certain circumstances.

Unfortunately a lot of it is wrapped up in wording about "reasonable".
 
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1664kronenbourg said:
This week I've had to walk to work, work in a cold shop then walk one in 0c or oc- temperatures (5- tonight and that was after working in a cold shop al afternoon). Not everybody can drive/catch a bus to work and some of us have to walk to work, work ina cold shop and walk home in the zero/zero minus degrees. Anybody know what the lgal maximum temperature is before we can be sent home (of course certain jobs require people to work in the temperatures we've been having this week don't they?).
But on the plus side, at least my drinks're still cold as I'm walking home.
Anybody else on here had to walk to/from work in the cold this week?
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And there me working outside in this cold weather from 7am till 4pm (somedays till 6pm)
 
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chaparral said:
And there me working outside in this cold weather from 7am till 4pm (somedays till 6pm)
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Fortunately managed to dodge it so far this year - previous years I've been working outside overnight, often at a site on an exposed hillside, in temperatures well below zero - with appropriate clothing though it is manageable (combing the thermal fleece liner from an M65 jacket with a winter parka works wonders).
 
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1664kronenbourg said:
Anybody else on here had to walk to/from work in the cold this week?
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Yes. But I just wear warm clothes and and get on with it. Walking home from work is the worse, I have to walk down a monster of a steep ******* hill and when it's icy underfoot it's horrendous. I half expect one of my last memories being my foot going from underneath me and then waking up on an A&E trolley with my colleagues looking down at me and laughing.
 
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Joxeon said:
Just don't stop off at the bank when your on the way.
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Back when I used to ride a bike I had to go to the bank, the old Natwest in Stoke, and after I'd parked up outside I removed my helmet and casually strolled inside. Only problem was I forgot to remove my balaclava and got some very worrying looks. :D
 
you need a job working for the Government, all the rads get turned on full blast like they got it for free. Oh wait they use tax payers money so it kinda is free to them
 
I was warmer walking up to work this afternoon then i was coming home but I didn't complain about how cold it was. But what i'm really worried about is slipping and breaking my glasses or damaging them. I've just had a look and up here in Mancheter its -7 degrees.
 
Joxeon said:
Just don't stop off at the bank when your on the way.
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Actually, I did walk into a bank wearing a balaclava once but didn't get any trouble. But Once I walked into a pub on the way home with the said balaclava on, gave the bar maid a bit of a scare as i reached into a pocket before I pulled the money out for a pint and asked for a pint of Stella then told her I was only wearing it to keep my head warm.
I know the body loses heat from the head but how much?
 
ThriceNightly said:
Op with appropriate clothing you should be able to deal with the cold conditions.
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I wasn't too bad s I had a pair of gloves, balaclava, my steel toe capped boots, a gillet and my uniform on but I wasn't as warm walking home and I didn't say it was too cold to walk to work (no doubt some customers who're perfectly capable of walking to the Coey in freezing cold weather were saying 'it's too cold to go shopping so I'll get one of the staff to do my shopping for me'. I know that some people genuinely can't do it due to health or other conditions but some people're just too lazy. There was an occasion when I was due to turn up for a late shift and there was a gale, a downpour and the weather was cold (I honestly lost the photograph of a collapsed garage roof). I was saturated when I turned up and the boss asked me to go and put his lottery for him as soon as I entered the place, The people who worked in the labour camps in Siberia had to work in sub-zero temperatures.
 
1664kronenbourg said:
I was warmer walking up to work this afternoon then i was coming home but I didn't complain about how cold it was. But what i'm really worried about is slipping and breaking my glasses or damaging them. I've just had a look and up here in Mancheter its -7 degrees.
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Buy a zimmer frame to help with your walk home!
 
1664kronenbourg said:
[..]
Anybody else on here had to walk to/from work in the cold this week?
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Yes. Later at night, when it's colder. I saw a temperature of -7C displayed a bit earlier in the evening/night.

I was also working in a foyer. With the heating mostly broken, massive doors and lots of people coming in and out most of the time. Temps got as low as 10C but were usually ~18C with gusts of freezing air making it feel much colder.

Walking to and from work was the lesser of the two because I could add a suitable coat and I was walking. In terms of temperature, I've found that the key things are clothing and movement. Suitable socks, thermal leggings under my trousers, thermal vest under my work shirt under my fleece under my heavy rough weather coat, hood up. Walking in -7C dressed like that is fine. I've been down to -18C and found that was bothersome even with good thermal insulation in clothing. You still need to breathe and I found that breathing -18C air was unpleasant. It feels different and it seems to suck the body heat right out of you. For me, anyway.

Worst part this week has been the steep hill between my home and my workplace. It's a bit dicey when there's anything on it that reduces friction, especially if it also covers the uneven and broken surface so you can't see the holes or the protruding bits. I'm old enough for falling over to be easier and to be a more serious issue. Not like when I was young, although of course in those days it was uphill both ways and at least 10 miles long :)
 
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