Editor's Note: Stay cool (or warm)

Every month, the Safety+Health team covers news and topics that are important to the safety community. Many S+H subscribers work in manufacturing, construction or other high-risk industries.

Still, because I spend a lot of time in an office, a short news item at the back of the “In the News” section caught my eye: Office temperatures can be a source of worker conflict: study.

The news brief reports on a Harris poll in which almost half of respondents said their office is either too hot or too cold. In addition, “15 percent of respondents reported having had arguments over the matter, while 19 percent said they secretly have changed the thermostat during the summer months.”

I’ve never witnessed an argument about office temperatures, but I can attest that a single adjustment of a thermostat can make my work area range from the halls of Hades to the ice planet Hoth. This is true year-round, so people do what they need to do to adapt: My boss keeps a fan on her desk, and I’ve seen more than one co-worker typing away while wearing a winter coat.

Here at S+H, we’re committed to keeping you informed on the most serious workplace hazards. But we also know that Recognizing hidden dangers: 25 steps to a safer office remains one of our most popular articles, and our newsletters on office safety and worker health and wellness are among our most requested. (Subscribe to our newsletters.)

Whether you’re trying to keep workers safe and comfortable at a facility, on a jobsite or in an office, we’re here for you.

The opinions expressed in “Editor’s Note” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.