One study looked at the impact of the ambient temperature on worker efficiency, by tracking the activity of clerks in an insurance office. Although it measured the activity of just nine women, the results were arresting. When the temperature dropped five degrees, they were half as productive, more than doubling the number of mistakes. In fact, the ambient temperature can do more than influence your productivity — it can change the way you think.
Warm environments are better for creative thinking , while cooler workplaces are thought to help keep people alert during repetitive or monotonous tasks. Perhaps even more surprisingly, ambient temperature can have a direct impact on your ability to collaborate; a small study of 33 people showed those in warmer rooms are more likely to harbour warm feelings about those around them.
Even holding a hot cup of coffee encourages workers to judge others as more generous and caring — while iced coffee leads to the cold shoulder. You're not alone Credit: iStock. But before you go blaming your last performance review on a poorly adjusted thermostat, consider this: studies in the field are often small, involving fewer than participants. Working on the principle that there will always be someone complaining, those in the field gauge thermal comfort by how many people will feel uncomfortable at any given temperature, the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied PPD.
Tellingly, the latter requires a number of assumptions about their age, weight and — crucially — gender. In the end, the debate of high temperatures versus overall thermal comfort can come down to company policy. You may be better off enforcing one temperature and requiring your employees to stick to it.
This sets an overall expectation around temperature, and your employees can adjust to meet their own comfort as a result. This means office managers won't have to deal with temperature and productivity issues, and your business may be able to increase its energy efficiency. If you're an employee at a company where there's an impassioned temperature debate, push your executives to make a decision about overall temperature and be done with it.
If you're looking for a place to start, OSHA has a full set of guidelines and regulations for indoor office air quality. You can refer to its official standards to get the ball rolling on a comprehensive temperature policy at your office.
In general, research has shown that women feel colder than men do at the same air temperature. One study found that men prefer rooms at 72 F , while women prefer 77 F. Body size and fat-to-muscle ratios are largely to blame. Many professionals do not view office temperature as a sexism issue but recognize the different realities for men and women concerning body temperature and clothing options.
It is important to regularly check in with your workers and follow the wishes of the majority, with allowances for individual modifications as needed. Despite research and recommendations from OSHA, many offices determine their own optimal office atmosphere. For instance, Matthew Briggs, chairman at Briggs Acquisitions , said his office is intentionally kept at 65 F to increase employee productivity and concentration.
Whitney Meers, strategist at Concrete Blonde Consulting , has given up her fight and works from home for the summer. Most workers who are unhappy with the temperature in their office buildings recognize that there are individuals who feel the opposite way in the same space.
She said HR does its best to keep everyone happy. Vancheri turns down the thermostat to fit his personal preferences. Please note that these links are to the original legislation, visitors should verify for themselves whether legislation is in force or whether it has been amended or repealed by subsequent legislation. Temperatures in the workplace Topics: Getting started , Making health and safety work for your business.
Minimum Temperature Guidance states that the temperature in the workplace should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius unless the work requires physical effort in which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius. What can an employee do? Maximum Temperature Those employees exposed to extreme heat can suffer symptoms that include discomfort, dehydration and exhaustion.
What can be done if the temperature is excessive? The following list provides a number of practical ways to address any problems with excess temperature: air conditioning units can be adjusted or provided if not already existing increasing the number of open windows provide staff with fans install blinds on windows— this can reduce heat gain through windows provision of cold drinking water insulating hot plants or pipework place workstations away from direct sunlight job rotation relax requirements on the wearing of a uniform Resources Personal Protective Equipment and Heat: Risk of heat stress Workplace health, safety and welfare.
Thermal comfort also depends on the metabolic rates activities being done , the clothing a person wears, and radiant temperatures of other surfaces. Metabolic rate activities and clothing will vary from person to person, even if every person wears the same clothing and performs the same activity.
Where possible, allow individuals to have some control over clothing options and pace of work. Radiant temperature sources include floors and windows. For example, poorly insulated windows can create a cold area in the winter, and sunshine can create a warm area in the summer. Humans are most sensitive to warm ceilings, and to cold vertical surfaces such as windows. Floor surface temperatures that are too high or too low, and that are different than air temperatures also contribute to thermal discomfort.
Add a badge to your website or intranet so your workers can quickly find answers to their health and safety questions. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, CCOHS does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current.
0コメント