The union campaign for a maximum workplace temperature has been given added impetus after reports of workers failing sick in sweltering offices. The ticket office at Birmingham New Street railway station was forced to close temporarily this week after inside temperatures hit a dizzying 90 Fahrenheit (32 celsius). Meanwhile public sector union UNISON says poorly designed offices have seen overheated workers fainting. Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said: 'Whilst the summer heat is sure to be temporary, some people have to work in searing temperatures on a regular basis, due to poor insulation, no air conditioning or ventilation. These high temperatures have a really damaging impact on health - making people tired, ill and dehydrated. Without the backing of a legal limit on temperatures at work, some employers choose not to take action to protect their employees. This is why we need the government to act to set a maximum working temperature.' Commenting on the decision to shutdown the ticket office at Birmingham New Street until temporary air conditioning units were installed, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: 'You couldn't make this up. We have Network Rail spending hundreds of millions on re-building a station which is used by more than 30 million passengers a year. And they forget to install air conditioning for ticket office staff working in offices on the lower ground floor under a giant shopping centre. Our members are then expected to work in temperatures of over 90 degrees while bosses on the floor above them sit around in the cool of their air conditioned offices.'
