Autumn|HS asked readers if their workplaces are particularly hot or cold.
Is it has the internal temperature of your workplace felt cold lately? Researcher at the Institute of Occupational Health Jutta Karkulehto wouldn’t consider it a miracle.
“It takes a couple of weeks to adapt to the environment. When it was a warm autumn and the temperatures have now dropped, especially if the office heating season is not yet on, it can cause a feeling of coldness.”
HS asked readers if their workplaces are particularly hot or cold.
Many of those who responded to the survey told about the cold. The identity of those quoted in the story is known to the editor.
“We had a renovation in our department a couple of years ago. The biggest problem is the air conditioning in the break room. Last winter, the lowest temperature in the room was seven degrees. The heating does not work. When the problem was reported, a small electric heating device was brought into the room. No corrections have been made. And soon it will be winter again. Like every year.” Woman, 55, Vaasa
Institute of Occupational Health recommends the internal temperature of the offices to 21–25 degrees. According to the recommendation, the employer must initiate measures if the temperature drops below 20 degrees or rises above 28 degrees.
In the winter season the target temperature is around 21 degrees, a couple of degrees more in summer. In this case, the Institute of Occupational Health by “the employee’s performance is at its best”.
However, the optimal temperature in the workplace is, at least to some extent, a gendered issue. Researcher Karkulehto refers to studies according to which women like slightly, about 1–1.5 degrees, higher temperatures than men.
According to Karkulehto, it is largely due to physiological differences. On average, men have a faster metabolism and have more muscle mass than women. Women, on the other hand, have on average a higher fat percentage than men and hormonal factors that affect the body’s deep heat.
These factors and the person’s size affect their heat storage and output, says Karkulehto.
According to him, women are therefore more likely than men to express their dissatisfaction with a cold work environment.
“I would see it as important not to compromise on such a thing as a pleasant working environment.”
Many the respondent also told about uncomfortably hot working conditions.
“It’s constantly 23-24 degrees warm in my work unit. You will sweat if you have to be in constant motion, and your strength will run out quickly. There is often a stuffy feeling in the premises. Despite complaints and adjusting the air conditioning, the temperature always rises to the same level after a while.” Woman, 40, Hyvinkää
According to Karkulehto, temperatures exceeding the recommendations can easily affect the employees’ state of alertness, concentration and performance.
However, the seasons and temperatures have a stronger effect on those who do manual work, for example outside on construction sites, than office workers, says Karkulehto.
“You get tired quickly in the heat, the risk of accidents increases and missteps and small slips are more common.”
Multi respondents felt that their workplaces are too cold in winter and too hot in summer.
“My workplace is far too hot in the summer and far too cold in the winter. The carpentry workshop is located in an old factory building that has not been made for today’s needs. You have to wear sunglasses inside on a sunny day so you can see what you’re doing. And there is no air conditioning.” Male, 38, Helsinki
The website of the Institute of Occupational Health states that thermal comfort correlates with work efficiency. The decrease in comfort caused by the temperature, on the other hand, weakens the ability to pay attention, reduces work motivation, increases the number of errors and weakens work productivity.
However, thermal comfort can be influenced by your own activities. Those working in a hot environment should take care especially of hydration and rest breaks, says Karkulehto.
With winter approaching, it is perhaps comforting that, according to the researcher, it is easier to deal with the cold than the heat. In office work, where low muscle activity increases the feeling of coolness, you should remember to move during breaks. Another tip is to invest in warm clothes.
“It doesn’t take much to put on a cardigan,” says Karkulehto.
Readers’ answers have been lightly edited and shortened in some places in HS’s editorial.
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