Texas weather gets hot, especially during mid to late summer. Air conditioning should keep you safe, but it may need to work double-time year-round depending on your occupation. Certain job locations, like bakeries and factories, may need good air circulation to keep you safe.
With that in mind, is it illegal to not have air conditioning at work? A reputable HVAC company in San Antonio, TX, like Apollo Air Heating & Cooling, knows some legal information about cooling systems. If your job doesn’t have a working air conditioner, read more to see if there’s anything you can do.
Are There Health Risks Associated With Heat?
Although heat can be a subjective sensation, most people feel comfortable between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. While heat exposure can be unavoidable in some occupations, managing the amount of heat can keep the greatest number of workers safe. After all, heat-related illnesses can happen indoors and outdoors, such as:
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a potentially life-threatening condition in which a person becomes too overheated to control their internal temperature. During a heat stroke, a person’s body temperature can rise to or above 106 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 to 15 minutes. This issue can lead to permanent disability or death without emergency treatment.
Heat Exhaustion
A person suffering from heat exhaustion has lost too much water and salt, usually from excessive sweating. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, and headache. Without an efficient cooling system, a person with heat exhaustion can make uncontrollable, expensive, and physically dangerous mistakes.
Heat Syncope
Heat syncope essentially means heat-related fainting spells and dizziness. A person working in hot, dehydrating conditions may become dizzy or fall unconscious if they remain standing too long or try to stand up after sitting. Someone suffering from heat syncope can fall unconscious or get dizzy at inopportune times, leading to serious accidents.
Rhabdomyolysis
This medical condition often occurs alongside heat stress or physical exertion in hot areas. A person’s muscles begin to rupture and break down, some dying and increasing the electrolytes and proteins in the blood. Too much of these substances can lead to kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
Your AC and Airflow
Is it illegal to not have an air conditioner at work considering the potential health risks? Since heat waves often happen in Texas and around San Antonio, having an air conditioner seems like a no-brainer. Even if you don’t consider the heat, an AC does wonders for improving your indoor air quality.
Indoor air tends to be the most comfortable at controlled levels of humidity. A functioning central air conditioning system would likely keep the humidity levels around 50%. Otherwise, you and others in the same workplace can suffer from more airborne illnesses and respiratory stressors.
Businesses that work with certain substances also require safe airflow to help prevent chemical inhalation. Depending on the chemicals involved, a person could develop a debilitating illness without the much-needed ventilation.
The Legality of Lacking an AC in San Antonio
As of early 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not have official rules or limits on workplace temperature regulation. Various occupational activities can cause workers to encounter different temperatures, from farm workers and landscapers to delivery drivers and foundries. As such, they could not apply blanket rules to force all work conditions to fit within a specified temperature range.
However, OSHA’s General Duty Clause states businesses should take appropriate steps to prevent recognizable hazards that could cause serious harm or death. Extreme temperatures qualify as a recognizable hazard that threatens the health and wellness of everyone at work. In indoor settings, one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk is through AC installation, which helps maintain a safe and consistent environment.
Aside from personal comfort issues, if you or a coworker suspect you’re experiencing working conditions with extreme temperatures and no protection, you can file a complaint with OSHA. Employers cannot legally retaliate against those filing OSHA reports by firing them or other discriminatory actions.
How to Keep Your Business Safe
Is it illegal to not have air conditioning at work in San Antonio, TX, or is it a matter of morals and efficiency? Apollo Air Heating & Cooling experts believe in keeping your business, employees, or coworkers safe from preventable heat and air-related workplace hazards.
If you have an AC that won’t turn off or has cooling problems, we can quickly restore proper humidity and air control. Otherwise, we can help you start from scratch with a new AC system. Call us at 210-985-8396 or visit our contact page for top-quality customer service and a free quote today.