High Heat: What In-Office Temperature Is Correct? With last week’s heat wave poised to continue this week, folks are starting to wonder if the in-office temperatures are possibly a good reason to stay home. According to Section 1805.3 of the the State Administrative Manual (SAM), each State building is to be run with a 4°F fluctuation in temperature. Specifically, “the target range is plus or minus two degrees Fahrenheit from the temperature set point, for a total fluctuation of four degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature set point should be no higher than 68°F in winter and no lower than 78°F in summer; unless such a temperature in a particular job or occupation may expose employees to a health and safety risk.”
What does this mean for CAPS-UAW Members right now?
Building facility managers for the buildings we work in are working to maintain a temperature between 76°F and 80°F. OSHA has no specific requirements for what temperature an office building should be kept, but they do provide a recommendation that temperatures are kept in the range of 68-76° F and humidity control in the range of 20%-60%; though it is a recommendation, not a rule or specific guideline. CalOSHA recently voted to adopt new regulations on indoor heat illness prevention, this new regulation, once it successfully passes the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) review, will apply to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F. It establishes required safety measures for indoor workplaces to prevent worker exposure to risk of heat illness.The OAL has 30 days from June 20, 2024 to review the proposal.
What If I’m Too Hot? What if the temperature exceeds the guidelines?
Reach out to CAPS-UAW by filling out this form and a fellow union member will be happy to connect with you to discuss your options, which could include:
- Reasonable Accommodation, long-term: If you have medical considerations, you may be able to seek and receive a Reasonable Accommodation for the in-office conditions when the temperatures inside rise to a level that interferes with your medical condition, in the long-term.
- Working remotely, in the near-term: In the meantime, if you are feeling unwell or are nervous about the working conditions within your office, send an email to your supervisor requesting to work remotely
- Filing a Health and Safety Grievance
- Working to establish a joint CAPS-UAW/Management Health and Safety Committee with your department management.
CAPSule on the Web. The new issue of your CAPS-UAW newsletter, CAPSule, is now posted online. Read it here for information about how you can get involved with building our power and how we are collectively acting to win a fair and equitable contract for State Scientists.