Did you know?

Arcotherm regularly research the trade and general media to bring facts, news and updates on the impact of temperature in the workplace. How much of this relates to you? Arcotherm will always offer advice.

Static

Lowering humidity in the workplace can reduce static by 40%. This causes great personal discomfort and can cause problems in certain processes where high static build up can interrupt photocopiers, and where static has a massive impact on certain industries such as printing causing problems with paper feeding systems.

Air cleanliness

Cooling systems such as evaporative coolers, which Arcotherm provide, can trap pollens reducing them in the working environment. It also filters out larger pollutants leaving cleaner air.

People

High temperatures can cause loss of concentration and lower efficiency. Some of the more well known impacts are illustrated in the article below.

Health

Cleaner air and sensible temperatures lower the incidence of colds and flu; in chronic conditions such as asthma, clean air can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. www.ashtma.org has an excellent resource of information.

Fascinating Weather Facts

The highest recorded temperature in the UK was on Sunday 10th August 2003, with the temperature reaching 38.5º C in Brogdale, Near Faversham, Kent; previously the highest temperature had been 37.1º C in Cheltenham, Gloucester, reached on 03rd August 1990.

On 11th February 1895, the temperature dropped to – 27.2º C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, and is still the lowest recorded temperature in the UK.

Arcotherm’s heaters have been used on such diverse projects as defrosting hot cross buns in readiness for Good Friday, and costume drying in Southern Ireland throughout the filming of “Saving Private Ryan”.

The longest drought in the UK occurred in Sussex, between 17th March and 15th May 1893 – a period of 60 days!

A shower of heavy rain and hail fell in Derby on the 17th of July 1841; nothing unusual in that, except that it was accompanied by hundreds of small fish and frogs – many of them still alive.

279mm of rain fell on 18th of July 1955, in Martinstown, Dorset.

Between 23rd June and 8th July 1976, there were 14 consecutive days when the temperature at Heathrow Airport was above 31º C.

The temperature at Rapid City, South Dakota, fell from 12.8º C at 07:00, to -13.3º C at 07:15, on 22nd January 1943.

Between 22nd January and 17th March 1947, snow fell somewhere in the UK; in upper Teesdale and the Denbighshire Hills, depths of level snow reached 150cm.

On 12th July 1901, 92mm of rain fell in 1 hour, in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Articles

The following is an abridged article from Personnel Today www.personneltoday.com showing the negatives of high temperatures and the benefits of a cool environment.

“The hot summer months can make life very uncomfortable for office, factory and other workers. So how do companies fulfil their legal obligations on working conditions and prevent tempers soaring along with the thermometers?

Warm weather is good news if you have booked time off work to coincide with the sunshine, but not so welcome for the hundreds of thousands who will be sweltering in sticky offices, shops, kitchens and factories.

Experts are warning employers that they will need to keep staff cool and comfortable.

According to Johanna Burns of the National Britannia Group, a health and safety consultancy, employers are legally obliged to maintain a comfortable temperature in the workplace.

“While the law doesn’t state a maximum reasonable temperature, employers are expected to take steps to deal with situations where the temperature is unbearably high,” she said.

“The World Health Organisation recommends a maximum air temperature of 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) for workers to work comfortably. At temperatures above this people start to suffer from loss of concentration, increased accidents and loss of productivity,” said Burns.

People who already work in hot conditions are at an increased risk of heat exhaustion when the thermometer mercury creeps up, with cooks, bakers and foundry workers most vulnerable.

Office workers can also suffer major problems in the heat, with concentration lapses leading to accidents and injury, and prolonged periods at computer stations causing stress, tension, headaches and eye strain.

People who deal with the public such as retail, bank and NHS staff can also be exposed to increased levels of violence, as tempers soar along with temperatures.

Burns said employers are legally obliged to provide thermometers to allow the temperature to be monitored and urged managers to take steps to improve conditions during stifling hot spells.

“There are a number of simple measures that can help such as installing portable air conditioning units and fans, relaxing strict dress codes and providing cold drinks,” she said.

She warned that if employers are not reasonable, they may face severe consequences. “Those who do not comply with legislation may face claims for compensation, and suffer from higher absenteeism and lower productivity. This can be avoided by taking sensible measures to overcome the effects of hot weather.” she said.

These are additional links for reference and sales approaches (where sites list members)

Horticultural

http://www.rhs.org.uk
Royal Horticultural Society

http://www.nccpg.com
The National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens

Hire Industry

http://www.hae.org.uk/association/industrynews.asp
Hire Association Europe

http://www.hireindustry.co.uk
Hire industry advertising portal – directory listing from £100 p.a.

Warehousing

http://www.warehousenews.co.uk
Warehouse and logistics news

http://www.warehousexchange.co.uk
Warehouse listings – plus a services listing, possibility for Arcotherm to list

http://www.whichwarehouse.com
Search facility for warehouses and services – advertising option.

http://www.ciltuk.org.uk
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) UK

http://www.ukwa.org.uk
United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA)