Unfortunately, the dangers of extreme temperatures go beyond matters of personal satisfaction and productivity. Exposure to extreme cold can lead to hypothermia and frostbite, and thousands of workers get sick each year from heat exposure. Unfortunately, the records of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are full of tragic stories of heat-related deaths: an assistant welder, an asparagus farmer, a police cadet in training. Dehydration can occur quickly in a cold work environment, so proper fluid practices are crucial. Whenever possible, work should be done in pairs so that workers can keep an eye on each other. Radiant radiators can be used and wind barriers reduce wind chill. Training on how to recognize and manage cold stress is also important and should be integrated into the health and safety programs of workplaces where cold is expected to work. Under the general duty clause, section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1970, employers are required to provide their employees with a workplace “free from recognised hazards which cause or may cause death or serious injury to workers”.

The courts have interpreted OSHA`s general mandatory clause to mean that an employer is required by law to create a workplace free from conditions or activities that the employer or industry recognizes as dangerous and that cause or may cause death or serious bodily harm to workers if there is a practical method to reduce the risk. These include heat-related hazards that are likely to result in death or serious bodily injury. Talk to colleagues who are also at risk and remember that if you approach your employer together, you usually have more legal protection than if you file a complaint alone. You can also protect yourself with hard and cold facts: What to do in case of unpleasant – or dangerous – temperatures? Created by FindLaw`s team of writers and legal writers| Last updated: 04 February 2021 While there is no hard and fast rule for office temperatures, OSHA is concerned about indoor air quality in offices and has issued several regulations to eliminate indoor air pollution. These regulations recommend that office temperatures be kept between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 20 and 60%. Expert legal advice regarding heat stress lawsuits can be crucial for your business. Contact an employment lawyer in your area now for free or low-cost advice. Workers in a cold environment risk hypothermia, lowering core body temperature to 95°F or lower. This is the temperature below which bodily functions are impaired, and it occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce. It is extremely dangerous and requires aggressive but carefully monitored warm-up treatment.

In practice, hypothermia in the workplace is not a problem unless the ambient temperature drops below 50 to 60°F. However, health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, circulatory problems or cardiovascular disease exacerbate a worker`s susceptibility to hypothermia. Older workers and those in poor physical condition may also be more vulnerable. When testing extreme temperatures, OSHA uses heat stress monitors to check temperature, humidity, air circulation, and the amount of heat radiated by heat sources. Meanwhile, sub-zero temperatures are much easier to detect with a thermometer. Determining the safety of an extreme temperature is based on a worker`s ability to maintain a safe body temperature. A body temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher affects an employee`s ability to perform their job. Thermostatic wars are a reality in most workplaces and homes. However, security is not negotiable. Although OSHA does not set a specific temperature for workplaces, it does require workers to have a safe and healthy workplace. Therefore, all employers are required to post the OSHA poster with employee rights. Twenty-five states have adopted OSHA-approved plans to comply with and enforce heat illness prevention plans.

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in prosecution if workers are injured as a result of heat-related illness. Although OSHA does not have specific regulations for indoor temperature in the workplace, the agency recommends a temperature range between 68 and 76 degrees. Prolonged periods at sub-zero temperatures can cause many serious health problems. And just like heat stress disorders, cold stress disorders can be deadly. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not require employers to maintain certain workplace temperatures.