The little red ovens (vans)

[Broxi51]

I feel that with the summer upon us that H&S should look into air conditioning in vans.
They become like an oven in the summer because all the windows have to be closed due to mail integrity when out of the van and when you climb back in them the sweat starts to drip off of you because it is so hot. Surely it must be illegal to have us working at the hottest time of day and provide us with vans that have no air con. I will be drinking 2-3 litres of water during my working hours now that summer is here. I work in East Scotland and the vans get bl**dy hot so I would hate to be using them in the South of England. It will be sheer murder for them.

[ramsay ladders]

I am with you on that one. 22C today and I feel drained after putting up with the heat inside the van. But aircon?........most of the vans in our office still have cassette players

[stokes11eg]

Ours still have starting handles

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Ours still have starting handles

the speed some of bag droppers go I think some of ours are flintstone powered.

[DGP1]

Ours still have starting handles

the speed some of bag droppers go I think some of ours are flintstone powered.

Some of our vans do have holes in the floor

[Broxi51]

Ours still have starting handles

the speed some of bag droppers go I think some of ours are flintstone powered.

Some of our vans do have holes in the floor

At least you have ventilation disgruntled Your vans wont need air conditioning

[dave7634]

Barring in mind how long it took for Royal Mail to get vans with radios in I doubt air con will bother them until it comes as standard in any other vehicles they purchase. That and doesn't air con make you use more fuel? Some drivers I bet would drive around with it on and still have the windows down

[stokes11eg]

Serious point though. not so long ago there was a thread on working temperatures--given no one can smoke in the vans as it's deemed to be a 'workplace' temperature control should also apply.

[DGP1]

Serious point though. not so long ago there was a thread on working temperatures--given no one can smoke in the vans as it's deemed to be a 'workplace' temperature control should also apply.

That's a good point

[stokes11eg]

At long last--I've got something right!!!! but it is true, non-the less.

[Broxi51]

HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm

What is the maximum/minimum temperature in the workplace?
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment

Regulation 7 of these Regulations deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that:

During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.

However, the application of the regulation depends on the nature of the workplace i.e. a bakery, a cold store, an office, a warehouse.

The associated ACOP goes on to explain:

‘The temperature in workrooms should provide reasonable comfort without the need for special clothing. Where such a temperature is impractical because of hot or cold processes, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as close as possible to comfortable. 'Workroom' means a room where people normally work for more than short periods.

The temperature in workrooms should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius unless much of the work involves severe physical effort in which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius. These temperatures may not, however, ensure reasonable comfort, depending on other factors such as air movement and relative humidity.’

Where the temperature in a workroom would otherwise be uncomfortably high, for example because of hot processes or the design of the building, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a reasonably comfortable temperature, for example by:

insulating hot plants or pipes;
providing air-cooling plant;
shading windows;
siting workstations away from places subject to radiant heat.
Where a reasonably comfortable temperature cannot be achieved throughout a workroom, local cooling should be provided. In extremely hot weather fans and increased ventilation may be used instead of local cooling.

Where, despite the provision of local cooling, workers are exposed to temperatures which do not give reasonable comfort, suitable protective clothing and rest facilities should be provided. Where practical there should be systems of work (for example, task rotation) to ensure that the length of time for which individual workers are exposed to uncomfortable temperatures is limited.

[DGP1]

At long last--I've got something right!!!! but it is true, non-the less.

Have a virtual drink on me

[woofwoof]

you could try thermal comfort look at this



http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/explained.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[brothermagrew]

I feel that with the summer upon us that H&S should look into air conditioning in vans.
They become like an oven in the summer because all the windows have to be closed due to mail integrity when out of the van and when you climb back in them the sweat starts to drip off of you because it is so hot. Surely it must be illegal to have us working at the hottest time of day and provide us with vans that have no air con. I will be drinking 2-3 litres of water during my working hours now that summer is here. I work in East Scotland and the vans get bl**dy hot so I would hate to be using them in the South of England. It will be sheer murder for them.

Granted that as Broxi51 says, all windows have to be closed due to mail integrity when out of the van. But as mail integrity states that mail (all mail) should be kept in the rear of the van, then I fail to see that upon returning to a van and setting off to their next destination point, why a driver could not wind the window down enabling a bit of fresh air in, before re-closing the window on reaching their next destination point, locking the van securely and carrying on on foot with their delivery.


Regulation 7 upon reading however, relates to the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings. Sister stokes11eg does indeed raise a very good point. Take plenty of liquid refreshment of the non-alcoholic variety out with you, in case of dehydration.

[k979aaa]

I feel that with the summer upon us that H&S should look into air conditioning in vans.
They become like an oven in the summer because all the windows have to be closed due to mail integrity when out of the van and when you climb back in them the sweat starts to drip off of you because it is so hot. Surely it must be illegal to have us working at the hottest time of day and provide us with vans that have no air con. I will be drinking 2-3 litres of water during my working hours now that summer is here. I work in East Scotland and the vans get bl**dy hot so I would hate to be using them in the South of England. It will be sheer murder for them.

Granted that as Broxi51 says, all windows have to be closed due to mail integrity when out of the van. But as mail integrity states that mail (all mail) should be kept in the rear of the van, then I fail to see that upon returning to a van and setting off to their next destination point, why a driver could not wind the window down enabling a bit of fresh air in, before re-closing the window on reaching their next destination point, locking the van securely and carrying on on foot with their delivery.


Regulation 7 upon reading however, relates to the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings. Sister stokes11eg does indeed raise a very good point. Take plenty of liquid refreshment of the non-alcoholic variety out with you, in case of dehydration.

And upon completion re-enter to the oven cook on gas mark 8 and when the steam raises to a low explosive state do the same over and over again!. Even dogs get treated better than this if you done this to your dog the RSPCA would have you taken to court and banned from keeping them!.