We’ve all taught in that room that’s freezing in the winter and stifling in the summer. There’s that one room that leaks whenever it rains and that other room where the windows are painted shut.
We deserve a comfortable working environment. And your school has a legal obligation to ensure a safe working environment.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Risk Assessments
It is your employer’s responsibility to undertake risk assessments and to eliminate or mitigate all known workplace risks.
Assessments must be undertaken by a ‘competent person’ and the results should be available to staff. Your school must consult with staff on all matters of health and safety.
Ventilation
By law, employers must ensure that all workplaces are ‘ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air’. Workers should also be protected from draughts, especially in the winter.
Your employer’s ventilation risk assessment should:
- look for areas lacking natural (windows/doors) or mechanical ventilation (fans/air ducts)
- identify areas that feel stuffy or smell bad
- identify windows that do not easily open or close
- consult staff on whether ‘heat stress’ or ‘cold stress’ is an issue in the workplace
- consider using a CO2 monitor to identify poor ventilation
According to the Health and Safety Executive, ten litres of fresh air per second, per person is recommended for most commercial buildings.
Workplace temperature
Under UK law, workplace temperatures must be ‘reasonable’, with a minimum workplace of 16 celsius.
While there is no maximum workplace temperature, the Health and Safety Executive makes it clear that:
All workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health & safety are properly controlled. Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard.
The World Health Organisation recommends a maximum workplace temperature of 24 celcius.
Other building issues
Your school has a responsibility to identify any risks associated with your building.
This can include things like:
- A leaky roof or window
- Cracked windows or a window that won’t open or close
- Excessive damp and/or black mold
- Excessive noise
- Classroom overcrowding
Once a risk has been identified, your school is obligated to take all reasonable steps to protect staff.
Don’t suffer in silence
If you feel that your workplace is uncomfortable or unsafe, support is available for you and your workmates. Contact the union at [email protected].
For information on the law, you can also contact ACAS on their free helpline. If you want to make a complaint, go to the website of the Health and Safety Executive.