complications from being sedentary in brisk fall temperatures
October 18, 2013 5:26 AM Subscribe
What kinds of health/ bodily complications can arise from being sedentary for 8-12 hours a day in temperatures in the high 50s - low 60s Farenheit?
Is there any conditions or general deterioration of health that can result from sitting idle in these temperatures indoors for approximately 50 hours a week? I've been trying to google, but I can only find issues related to outdoor exposure at lower temperatures or conditions resulting from a lower than normal sustained body temperature (but nothing saying being in lower temperatures causes lower sustained body temperature).
I'm asking this because our office heat is broken and has been for the past 2 winters and we made up for it with space heaters and wearing things like coats and fingerless gloves all day, which is quite frankly rediculous to me. Once last season when I brought up the issue to my boss, she suggested wearing a hat or dressing warmer and I find it patronizing. I dress normally for bieng inside in cold weather - a sweater or button down shirt (occasionally a long sleeve t with some jacket on top) and jeans or pants, usually with knee socks underneath. A new anti-space heater rule has been initiated and I know I'm going to be very cold and uncomfortable for the winter. Last winter the ambient temperature on the thermostats would read in the high 50s and low 60s with 5-6 space heaters running at people's desks. I'm trying to figure out if the onus for basic temperature comfort should nbe on me or the environment here.
Is there any conditions or general deterioration of health that can result from sitting idle in these temperatures indoors for approximately 50 hours a week? I've been trying to google, but I can only find issues related to outdoor exposure at lower temperatures or conditions resulting from a lower than normal sustained body temperature (but nothing saying being in lower temperatures causes lower sustained body temperature).
I'm asking this because our office heat is broken and has been for the past 2 winters and we made up for it with space heaters and wearing things like coats and fingerless gloves all day, which is quite frankly rediculous to me. Once last season when I brought up the issue to my boss, she suggested wearing a hat or dressing warmer and I find it patronizing. I dress normally for bieng inside in cold weather - a sweater or button down shirt (occasionally a long sleeve t with some jacket on top) and jeans or pants, usually with knee socks underneath. A new anti-space heater rule has been initiated and I know I'm going to be very cold and uncomfortable for the winter. Last winter the ambient temperature on the thermostats would read in the high 50s and low 60s with 5-6 space heaters running at people's desks. I'm trying to figure out if the onus for basic temperature comfort should nbe on me or the environment here.
The onus is completely on your boss here. You can bring up the law (which depends on where you live), as workspaces must be within a certain range legally speaking, but generally this is simply a sign of bad management. Sorry to say it :/
posted by Meagan at 5:40 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Meagan at 5:40 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Depending on where you live, there may be laws about the indoor temperature when the outdoor temperature is below a certain degree. I'm not sure if this is OSHA-regulated or not, but the landlord of the property may be in violation of local laws.
More personally, my office is often freezing due to the dictatorial whims of our office manager and on the coldest days, even with my space heater heating the room to a totally inadequate 66-68 degrees, after a few hours I am exhausted from shivering, and my arthritis aches badly enough that sometimes I can't walk home. If I had to work in an office that was around 55 degrees I would have to go on disability and work from home, or quit.
posted by elizardbits at 5:42 AM on October 18, 2013
More personally, my office is often freezing due to the dictatorial whims of our office manager and on the coldest days, even with my space heater heating the room to a totally inadequate 66-68 degrees, after a few hours I am exhausted from shivering, and my arthritis aches badly enough that sometimes I can't walk home. If I had to work in an office that was around 55 degrees I would have to go on disability and work from home, or quit.
posted by elizardbits at 5:42 AM on October 18, 2013
Where are you? There are various legal minimum workplace temperatures, e.g. in the UK it's 16C (60.8F), Massachusetts it's 66-68F in offices.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:43 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:43 AM on October 18, 2013
Response by poster: I'm in Phila, PA, USA. Actively looking to jump ship, but looking for info in the meantime.
posted by WeekendJen at 5:44 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by WeekendJen at 5:44 AM on October 18, 2013
Response by poster: Also, If it's relevant I'm small and lean and thus sometimes feel more affected buy these temperatures (maybe?) than people with more to them.
posted by WeekendJen at 5:47 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by WeekendJen at 5:47 AM on October 18, 2013
To answer the question you asked, there are no health implications beyond those that arise from being sedentary, period, over that span of time each day (and this is particularly the case if you wear warm clothes).
This is an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation, but not a dangerous one.
posted by killdevil at 5:57 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
This is an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation, but not a dangerous one.
posted by killdevil at 5:57 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
Last winter the ambient temperature on the thermostats would read in the high 50s and low 60s with 5-6 space heaters running at people's desks.
....You may actually have a bigger problem. I know that in New York City, it is the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure a residence is at least 55 degrees during the winter, and I wouldn't be surprised if a similar statute exists for businesses, or that a similar statute exists in other states.
I'd actually encourage your co-workers to consult an employment lawyer to see if there are any actual laws being broken here.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:16 AM on October 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
....You may actually have a bigger problem. I know that in New York City, it is the landlord's legal responsibility to ensure a residence is at least 55 degrees during the winter, and I wouldn't be surprised if a similar statute exists for businesses, or that a similar statute exists in other states.
I'd actually encourage your co-workers to consult an employment lawyer to see if there are any actual laws being broken here.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:16 AM on October 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
I can't answer the question you asked, but I can tell you that a) it is very common to ban space heaters in the workplace due to fire hazard (generally from them being left on all night when no one is in the building, and b) the temperature in the workplace is definitly and OSHA issue. I would file an anonymous complaint with OSHA,A and bring my space heater to work anyway. Or start burning sick days. That's just me, but at least file the complaint.
posted by vignettist at 7:40 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by vignettist at 7:40 AM on October 18, 2013
It's not comfortable for everyone, but I very much doubt that there's any health risk, and it's definitely not cold enough for chillblains. We (household of three--two adults, one child, buncha cats and dogs) keep our heat at 55 all winter, and have for five or six years. No one's ever had any complications, including a 5'4" 105 pound houseguest who stayed for five weeks.
That said, definitely do speak to a lawyer or other expert about this. Just because it's not physically harmful doesn't mean that it's an acceptable working condition.
posted by MeghanC at 7:42 AM on October 18, 2013
That said, definitely do speak to a lawyer or other expert about this. Just because it's not physically harmful doesn't mean that it's an acceptable working condition.
posted by MeghanC at 7:42 AM on October 18, 2013
Well, and just because you can hunker down in a house at a cold temp with blankets, warm seats and a hot cocoa doesn't mean that it's a comfortable or effective working environment. If you want to do something for your health, you could look into a standing desk. This would keep you moving and your blood flowing. Also, the oil-filled, free-standing radiator heaters with timers are way more safe than the space-heaters with fan blowers and coils. They aren't that much more expensive either. I, too, would be creaky and uncomfortable after a long day in a cold environment where I couldn't move much. And, yeah, I'd have no problem talking with OSHA. I hope you get a new job soon. Your boss sounds like a Class 'A' Assclown.
posted by amanda at 8:20 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 8:20 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm a writer and spend a lot of time at a desk. I also work for part of the year from Japan where there is no indoor heating at all. It can get very very cold in the winter but I have noticed that whenever I start moving around (doing cleaning or whatever) the cold becomes less of an issue.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:58 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by KokuRyu at 8:58 AM on October 18, 2013
For some people, Raynaud's phenomenon might come into play here.
posted by freezer cake at 9:32 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by freezer cake at 9:32 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: A doctor confirmed I experience Reynauds a few years ago, though per the wiki article, it seems to be "primary" and not from underlying disease, so the advice was to run my hands under warm water often... which helps, but between lapping the office (for movement warmth and bathroom breaks to warm my hands, i look distracted and unfocused on my work. (I know, I need new job!)
posted by WeekendJen at 9:41 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by WeekendJen at 9:41 AM on October 18, 2013
i look distracted and unfocused on my work.
Because you are, per a study from a Cornell ergonomics professor. And rightly so, due to the conditions. From the article: "At 77 degrees Fahrenheit, the workers were keyboarding 100 percent of the time with a 10 percent error rate, but at 68 degrees, their keying rate went down to 54 percent of the time with a 25 percent error rate... Temperature is certainly a key variable that can impact performance."
I know you're considering this a health issue, but your boss may be interested in securing the $2/hour of productivity for each worker.
posted by mochapickle at 9:50 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Because you are, per a study from a Cornell ergonomics professor. And rightly so, due to the conditions. From the article: "At 77 degrees Fahrenheit, the workers were keyboarding 100 percent of the time with a 10 percent error rate, but at 68 degrees, their keying rate went down to 54 percent of the time with a 25 percent error rate... Temperature is certainly a key variable that can impact performance."
I know you're considering this a health issue, but your boss may be interested in securing the $2/hour of productivity for each worker.
posted by mochapickle at 9:50 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
By the way, OSHA does not maintain temperature level recommendations. Used to, but doesn't now.
posted by mochapickle at 9:53 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by mochapickle at 9:53 AM on October 18, 2013
Self-correction -- they have recommendations, but not rules -- linky.
posted by mochapickle at 9:57 AM on October 18, 2013
posted by mochapickle at 9:57 AM on October 18, 2013
If your workplace is required to be ADA compliant, I feel like the Raynaud's could come into play there. At the very least, you could possibly wind up getting your space heater back. Just be careful with it, especially if your building is old.
Also check out the section about lighting and heating here, from the PA Labor and Industry website.
posted by skyl1n3 at 10:19 AM on October 18, 2013
Also check out the section about lighting and heating here, from the PA Labor and Industry website.
posted by skyl1n3 at 10:19 AM on October 18, 2013
I lived and worked in China for several years, and they effectively have no heat below the Yangzte River; some buildings have air conditioning units which emit heat during cold weather, but those often don't work properly. So, I have worked in offices and classrooms as well as lived in apartments in cold weather without heat (I chose to not even turn on my heating unit in my apartment because the hot dry air bothered me). Mostly what people do in that area of China is to wear lots of layers indoors and out. Coats are usually worn indoors. The biggest health problem I saw from this was "chillblains" (I think it's called) a condition when one's hands are in the cold for so long year after year that the joints get swollen and fingers get red in cold weather. But I think the temperatures to cause that condition would be below 50 degrees and over a prolonged period of time. Otherwise, you just kind of get used to wearing layers.
posted by bearette at 10:22 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bearette at 10:22 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
For a totally healthy person, these conditions would probably not cause any health problems. For any person whose health is already compromised in any significant way, they might. Many systemic illnesses are made worse by chronic stress, and being a little bit too cold for hours every day is a major physical stress. If your body is already struggling to function well because of some subclinical impairment (which you may not even know you have), this level of stress could indeed make you less well.
Raynauds is something that deserves to be taken very seriously. Over time, it can cause cumulative tissue damage that can cause major pain, ulcers that don't heal, loss of function, gangrene, and amputation. It's not just an annoying little discomfort. If you have Raynauds, whether primary or secondary (and you may not really know that for years), you absolutely should NOT be working in those conditions. If someone had told me this a few decades ago (and if I had been smart enough to take them seriously), I'd be in better shape today.
posted by Corvid at 11:13 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
Raynauds is something that deserves to be taken very seriously. Over time, it can cause cumulative tissue damage that can cause major pain, ulcers that don't heal, loss of function, gangrene, and amputation. It's not just an annoying little discomfort. If you have Raynauds, whether primary or secondary (and you may not really know that for years), you absolutely should NOT be working in those conditions. If someone had told me this a few decades ago (and if I had been smart enough to take them seriously), I'd be in better shape today.
posted by Corvid at 11:13 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
A few suggestions:
Take a sick day to go see a doctor and if s/he will confirm a connection between your Raynaud's and your working conditions, that's a worker's comp claim.
Linked above, I would just print and anonymously place on your boss's desk. Perhaps every day. And find a way to slip it in various places around the office. Stick it on the fridge in the break room. And on the wall next to the required OSHA poster(s). Maybe put it in every person's in box. I'd maybe get a little obnoxious about it and stir the pot a bit. But if you're not like that, or if your office staff is so small that a bit of revolution isn't really possible, maybe just print it out so you have it on hand (I'd probably also put a digital thermometer at my desk to be absolutely certain of the temperature while consulting that table). And then quietly call The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety to see if you have any recourse and to request they visit your office.
Any idea why the boss keeps it so cold? It is to save money? Or because she just prefers it cold? Is her office just as cold as yours? Does anyone else suffer? Knowing the answers may help you design a simple diplomatic approach if you'd like to just talk to her very DIRECTLY and frankly about this--of course with your printout and a week's worth of recorded daily temps at your desk handy. I don't know what language is best, but perhaps: "I'm not exactly sure how to approach this, so a direct one seems best: I suffer every day from the cold in here. My teeth chatter. I learned through casual conversation with a friend that the state requires it be at least 10 degrees warmer in here than it is. She gave me this paper [hand over paper] and I thought it might interest you. I really need to work in a properly heated space."
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 1:16 AM on October 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Take a sick day to go see a doctor and if s/he will confirm a connection between your Raynaud's and your working conditions, that's a worker's comp claim.
Linked above, I would just print and anonymously place on your boss's desk. Perhaps every day. And find a way to slip it in various places around the office. Stick it on the fridge in the break room. And on the wall next to the required OSHA poster(s). Maybe put it in every person's in box. I'd maybe get a little obnoxious about it and stir the pot a bit. But if you're not like that, or if your office staff is so small that a bit of revolution isn't really possible, maybe just print it out so you have it on hand (I'd probably also put a digital thermometer at my desk to be absolutely certain of the temperature while consulting that table). And then quietly call The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety to see if you have any recourse and to request they visit your office.
Any idea why the boss keeps it so cold? It is to save money? Or because she just prefers it cold? Is her office just as cold as yours? Does anyone else suffer? Knowing the answers may help you design a simple diplomatic approach if you'd like to just talk to her very DIRECTLY and frankly about this--of course with your printout and a week's worth of recorded daily temps at your desk handy. I don't know what language is best, but perhaps: "I'm not exactly sure how to approach this, so a direct one seems best: I suffer every day from the cold in here. My teeth chatter. I learned through casual conversation with a friend that the state requires it be at least 10 degrees warmer in here than it is. She gave me this paper [hand over paper] and I thought it might interest you. I really need to work in a properly heated space."
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 1:16 AM on October 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
As a quick fix, have you considered an electric heating pad that you could sit on while at your desk? Think the same effect as a heated seat in a car. I had to endure a similar situation for a few weeks when the vent above my workstation was broken, and I can attest that it was miserable, I was distracted, and it was hard to type as quickly as usual because my hands would get stiff from the cold. On the plus side, if you have any weight to lose our metabolism kick up in cold weather and shivering actually burns calories (since you asked about specific health impacts). If you are already lean, you will probably feel the cold more than someone who has more natural insulation.
posted by aspen1984 at 10:59 PM on October 22, 2013
posted by aspen1984 at 10:59 PM on October 22, 2013
Are you in a small space? I just stumbled upon this and wonder if it could be worth a try.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:15 AM on November 11, 2013
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:15 AM on November 11, 2013
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