Sally

I would recommend you read the Victorian Compliance Code for Workplace Amenities and Environment. You can find an electronic copy on WorkSafe Victoria's website, in their forms and publications area.

Locate the most recent version of the risk assessment performed in your workplace that assessed the amenities and environment. Check that the assessment included the effects to the workplace across the 4 seasons (summer, winter etc). Check out who completed the assessment, when it was done, what actions were raised, who was invited, when it was done, etc. If the problem has been ongoing there may be an incident report or the issue raised in committee meetings. You will need to dig around and may need to speak with many people.

People worth talking to, including getting help from include:

* Discuss your concerns with your manager.
* Speak with your fellow colleagues, understand how widespread the concerns or issues are.
* Speak with your health and safety representatives.
* Raise with your employers Health and Safety Team.
* Talk to the facility managers of the building.
* Committee and/or project team responsible for modification of the work environment.

After any change to a work environment, planning should have identified what risk assessments would need to have been reviewed, and then done. But this is post and therefore a bit late. There should be design studies and consultation records done in the early stages of the project. You should expect that consultation included a health and safety professional and representatives, and employees.

The above information will vary pending on company size and structure. Check our what your company practices or policies are, especially when it comes to change or modification.