Too hot in the office? Follow these 10 cool tips

The mercury on the thermometer keeps rising.You go off into your thoughts and visualise a refreshing cocktail,a barbecue and a dip in the pool.Then comes the realisation: I’m still in the office…there’s still work to be done! The hotter it gets,the more tired you feel and the harder it is to concentrate.Don’t worry,you’re not alone.During the summer,almost everyone struggles to work in an overheated environment.Looking for ways to get through the working day in a cooler place?Follow the tips below and shrug off the heat

1. Refresh yourself with these 10 tips

Is it going to be hot and stuffy in the next few days? If so, don’t let the heat in the office get to you and keep cool with the tips below.Are you hot?

► 1. Wash your hands and freshen up

There’s

nothing more refreshing than a dip in a pool.Too bad you can’t do it in between meetings.But there is a way to cool your body quickly.To do this, you need to regularly cool your feet, wrists and neck.At these places on our bodies, our arteries are close to the skin.Our heat receptors are most sensitive here.So regularly put your hands under a stream of cold water so your whole body can cool down with it.

► 2. Drink enough water

It can’t be

said enough: drink enough water. To keep your body hydrated, it’s advisable to drink every 20 minutes. Avoid coffee (and certainly alcohol) as they will only dry you out. Not a fan of plain water? Give your drink a flavour with slices of lime or orange for example.

► 3. Control the humidity inside

Humidity has a big influence on how our bodies feel heat.Always try to keep the humidity between 40-60%.If the humidity rises with the heat, our bodies will find it harder to get rid of their heat.And of course, that’s what we want to avoid.

► 4. Give your plants some attention

When it’s hot, your plants need a little extra attention. Whatever they get, they also give back. Plants help regulate the indoor climate. In addition to the atmosphere and friendliness, plants also improve air quality.

► 5. You are what you eat

Another tip when it’s hot: adjust your diet. For example, avoid protein-rich meals. They stimulate your body’s metabolism, making it hotter. Eat fruit and vegetables as much as possible. An additional tip (for those who like it): opt for spicy food. Peppers contain substances that make us sweat more, which means we release our heat more efficiently. So where is that curry dish?

► 6. Work in the shadows

Sunlight is not our best friend if we want to avoid rising temperatures.It’s best to close everything with shutters or blinds.The less direct sunlight the better.Keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible – as long as there is sufficient internal air circulation.

► 7. Get a breath of fresh air with fans

“A fan just circulates warm air” you may think. This is true, but it’s easy to fix.All you need is a bowl of cold water (or better still, ice cubes).Place it in front of the fan and cool air will circulate around the room.Just like with an air conditioner, it’s best not to direct that cold air flow onto your face or neck.In the medium term, it can cause muscle problems.

► 8. Turn the switch off

Lights and electronics inevitably give off heat, so turn off as many lights and appliances as possible. Is there enough natural light in the office? Appliances that you don’t need all the time (e.g. printers) should also be turned off.

► 9. (Fresh) clothes make the man

Choose clothes made from a light, breathable fabric that is comfortable and loose fitting (as this allows air under your clothes to circulate well). Think cotton or linen. It is important that you choose a light colour. Light colours reflect sunlight better, while a dark colour – especially black – absorbs the sun’s heat. Finally, wear several layers that can be easily removed when it gets warmer throughout the day.

► 10. Work flexibly with the “tropical schedule”

adaptez votre horaire de travail et envisagez de travailler selon un “horaire tropical”. Cela signifie que vous commencez la journée plus tôt : il fait souvent plus frais et donc plus agréable. Si vous commencez votre journée de travail plus tôt, vous pouvez également rentrer plus tôt chez vous et profiter plus longtemps du soleil.

Prévoyez toujours vos travaux les plus durs le matin. Au fur et à mesure que la journée avance, il est préférable de ralentir l’intensité de travail. Surtout entre 14 et 16 heures, car c’est alors que la température extérieure atteint son point le plus élevé. Sur base des normes officielles, les périodes de repos ci-dessous doivent être respectées. Les chiffres ici indiquent la valeur du WBGT (l’indice de température au thermomètre-globe mouillé). Vous pouvez lire et en apprendre davantage à ce sujet dans la prochaine partie de cet article.

2. What does the legislation say about heat in the workplace?

When is it really too hot in the office or warehouse? To determine this accurately, you will find a number of rules in Belgian labour legislation.

Firstly

a misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up: an ordinary thermometer will not help you determine whether it is too hot.You should use a globe thermometer instead.In addition to temperature, this device takes into account air velocity and humidity.The combination of these elements will give you the “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature” or WBGT.The value of the WBGT will always be a few degrees Celsius lower than the actual temperature.A few examples

• 30 °Con an ordinary thermometerand 55 % humidity corresponds to 25,4 WBGT
• 30 °C on an ordinary thermometerand 80 % humidity corresponds to 28,2 WBGT.
• 35 °Con an ordinary thermometerand 55 %humidity corresponds to 29,8 WBGT
• 35 °Con an ordinary thermometerand 80 %humidity corresponds to 32,9 WBGT

the

higher the humidity, the higher the WBGT value, so if it’s exceptionally warm, humid air will make it feel even warmer

3. What is the maximum WBGT index?

Of course, not everyone has a globe thermometer in their cupboard, so you can calculate the WBGT value yourself using these tables. If the maximum value is exceeded, it is up to the employer to take action

Sources :
emploi.belgique.be/fr/themes/bien-etre-au-travail/facteurs-denvironnement-et-agents-physiques/ambiances-thermiques/droits
www.jobat.be/nl/art/te-warm-om-te-werken
www.groups.be/1_47527.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=nl
www.elle.be/nl/86505-10-tips-om-af-koelen-op-kantoor.html
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