Air conditioning: Is there a maximum temperature for safe woking conditions?

I work in a photo lab and it is excruciatingly hot in here - about 28 to 32 degrees on busy days and the guy who owns the place doesnt want to get us an air con system as he doesnt want to spend the money on it i suppose. Are there any health and safety regulations that require him to make our working conditions more bearable?

Re: Air con

there's no law regarding this. the health and safety authority have recommended temperatures but nothing legally binding for employers.

Re: Air con

I think there's a minimum temperature below which teachers don't have to perform.
Not sure if it was our guy wanting a little break though, still, it was a good chance to get the bunsen burners out for 10 mins before class could begin. (maybe this is a union concession?)

Re: Air con

Workers in the newly refurbished Cork City Courthouse were sent home last year when the temperature in the building rose to a point at which working conditions were unbearable. I would have though in a photolab temps would have to be controlled to firstly prevent any issues with the chemicals involved and secondly to allow photos to develop in a controlled environment?

Re: Air con

Ive deleted some spurious posts here. Please stick to the question posted.

Thanks,
aj

i dunno about specific photo labs but the offices here are above 17 and usually 23 is the max that people can comfortably work.

If you were approching your employer suggest that it is not a safe place of work because at these temps fainting, dizziness, heat rash, headaches are very likely to occur. He will most likely a) send you home b) rotate your working (ie 2 hours printing 2 hours checking & packing 2 hours counter service) c) buy you fan's for localised cooling - a bit futile because the machines give out a load of heat. Suggest the latter 2 and see what he says.

Is there a maximum temperature for safe woking conditions?

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Surely there's a health an safety issue with stir frying in a photo lab in the presence of flammable material!? Or do you work in Surrey?

Do any of the chemical containers have safe temperature ranges written on their labels? If the temperature exceeds the recommended ranges you could say they are being stored in an unsafe manner.