…perhaps 28C is too warm for a summer office.
(c) 2019, Davd
I recently published a ‘blog’ advocating modest clothing for all office workers. Not long after, the Royal Weather Magicians1 provided some important context in the form of a Heat Warning for east-central Alberta.
My modesty blog responded to a “business column” on the CBC website, arguing that men should dress more casually, and in clothing that enables them to be comfortable at say, 28C [82 Fahrenheit], so that office buildings need not be cooled below that temperature.
About ten days later, a Heat Warning was issued for Vegreville and several cities, towns, and rural regions east of Edmonton. It accompanied forecast high temperatures of 29 and 28 degrees [Celsius] for the dates about which the public is being warned. Notice, please: 28 degrees is what the CBC’s Mr. Pittis wanted all office workers to dress for, in office buildings. Now the weather experts and Alberta Health are warning the public that 28-29 C can be quite dangerous:
, a very warm airmass will produce daytime high temperatures near 30 degrees on [dates] ….
…..Residents of and visitors to the warned regions are advised to take the following precautions to protect themselves, their families and their neighbours:
— Consider rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours of the day.
— Take frequent breaks from the heat, spending time indoors in cooled buildings such as malls or indoor pools.
— Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated.
— Check for your children or pets before you exit your vehicle. Do not leave any person or pet inside a closed vehicle, for any length of time.
Monitor for symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as high body temperature, lack of sweat, confusion, fainting, and unconsciousness.
Pay particular attention to individuals that can experience earlier or more severe effects from heat including infants, children, seniors, and individuals with pre-existing lung, heart, kidney, nervous system, mental health or diabetic conditions, outdoor workers, as well as those who are socially isolated.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
In my previous blog, i supposed Pittis and CBC had checked their facts and health science, and took their claim that 28C can be a comfortable office temperature, as plausible. Apparently, weather experts and health experts have serious doubts about that!
Among those who the warning states are heat susceptible, “infants, children, outdoor workers, and those who are socially isolated,” should be rare or absent among office workers. Seniors are likely to be present, as a minority. Individuals with pre-existing lung, heart, kidney, nervous system, mental health or diabetic conditions, are probably minority categories as well. Summing seniors, individuals with pre-existing lung, heart, kidney, nervous system, mental health and-or diabetic conditions, the total might be a minority among office workers, or a majority; if a minority, it is likely to be rather greater than tiny.
The warning urges the public generally to
Take frequent breaks from the heat, spending time indoors in cooled buildings such as malls or indoor pools.
It seems only consistent, to cool office buildings to a temperature in which the heat stressed can take refuge, and nobody working there will risk heat stress.
Mr. Pittis’ ‘bio’ has stated that he worked earlier as a forest fire fighter; which might perhaps indicate his heat tolerance is higher than the average. He might feel comfortable at 28C [82F] wearing light slacks, a T-shirt [and i will presume, no long-johns].
Somebody between him and publication, though, should have checked. Those heat warnings are serious, and they have been used for a while. Heat sickness, heart attacks, strokes, diabetic attacks, etc. are serious health concerns — and not good for productivity.
If you’re an office worker who wants your workplace cooled below 80 Fahrenheit (down to or below 26C) you can cite Government Heat Warnings as good reason.
