Campus Sites Thermal Comfort
Meeting with FM 24 August 2011
Attended by Dave McConnell
(Trade Union), Graeme Leslie (FM) & Frank Donoghue
(FM).
249 High Street
FM proposed closing the "top door"
(which is currently the main public entrance)
to the public and retaining it for staff and
disabled access only.
There would be a need to change
the way that the customer waiting area is organised
and Cash Collection management would need to
undertake this.
FD and GL agreed to discuss the
issue with local management should they require
further information.
FD and GL also reported that once
the asbestos has been removed from the boiler
area then extra sensors could be fitted so that
temperature control could be more closely applied
to each area of the workplace.
Waverley Court
This is a relatively new building
and was originally designed so that the building
should regulate its own temperature.
Sensors measure the temperature
and the regulatory system automatically adjusts
heating and cooling systems according to the
measurements.
Since it opened a number of changes
have been made that affect the temperature inside
the building.
There are chill beams fitted
into ceilings and floor vents which are both
designed to lower the temperature. Since the
building opened however desks have been moved.
This means that some chill beams are now directly
above where workers sit and some floor vents
are now directly under desks. This means that
the ventilation creates a draught that directly
affects individuals.
Some of the floor vents have been
closed. This means that the same volume of air
is pushed through fewer vents making the draught
more powerful. Floor vents can be moved but
decisions on desk moves have to be made first
otherwise the vents are at risk of being moved
again.
The third floor is subject to
solar gain. When the building was first opened
workers were not able to open windows; only
FM could do this. Because the building is open
plan, opening a window in one part might solve
the heat issue there but introduce a draught
that is experienced by workers in another part
of the building (particularly where a number
of windows are open). We need to establish when
and why the decision to allow staff to open
windows was made and establish if it was correct.
This sounds like a very controlling
way of working but because the system regulates
building temperature it is not. Local solutions
create wider problems so a building approach
is more likely to work.
Work also requires to be done
on the system that records temperatures and
adjusts the heating/cooling. It doesn't appear
to be responsive enough which means that the
adjustments are too slow which in turn means
that every problem worsens before it is tackled.
1 Cockburn Street
Sensors are to be relocated on
the first floor of this building and more radiators
are to be installed. Insulation will be installed
in the roof area as well. Summing Up Complaints
about temperature are still common on the campus
sites. I'm trying to take them up as best I
can but the refusal of management to allow time
for me to undertake Safety Duties makes this
hard.
It's important that workers continue
to report problems to FM and also as Health
and Safety issues and continue to keep me updated.
If any solutions are discussed or meetings arranged
please let me know so that I can try to stay
involved.
Dave McConnell
Branch Health and Safety Officer
Temperature Survey
April 2011: Management
in Finance are conducting a survey within the
Department to identify areas where there are
problems with temperatures in the working areas.
Members at Waverley Court and
Chesser House have long complained about both
excessive heat and cold at these sites.
Health and Safety professionals
prefer the term "Thermal Comfort" to temperature
in describing these issues.
The survey is supported by all
trade unions in Finance and Safety Reps for
all unions encourage members in Finance to complete
this survey to give an accurate picture of the
problems.
Your Safety Representatives are
aware that it is not only members in this Department
or on these sites that are affected and consultation
is going on between management and trade unions
to draft improved Corporate Guidance which will
hopefully be of benefit to members throughout
the City of Edinburgh Council.
Advice
on Thermal Comfort is on the Branch website.
It was drafted mainly with winter weather in
mind and will be updated once the Corporate
Guidance is out. The Branch Advice will be based
on the information available from the Health
and Safety Executive and will apply to non Council
members also".
Dave McConnell
Branch Health and Safety Officer
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