to think there needs to be a maximum working temperature.

[HelenaDove]

Ive been shocked to read on here and see and feel in RL how hot some workplaces are getting (namely some of the shops ive been in) some of the posts ive seen on here are really worrying. IMO there needs to be a maximum working temperature . This hot hot weather has gone on MUCH longer than the Beast from the East snow did. Why on earth does there have to be a death in this so called first world country before anything changes........i actually think thats what its probably going to take before anything MIGHT be done .

amp.theguardian.com/careers/2017/jun/21/working-in-a-heatwave-your-legal-rights?__twitter_impression=true

These heatwaves have happened regularly.........i listed several times i could remember off the top of my head upthread and the link in my OP is from last year.

No, the odd week of hitting 32 is far different from the current heatwave we are having, when it becomes a regular thing for months not the odd week then policies will be put in place, but there are many hidden implications on the maximum working temperature in our moderate climate that many gloss over and think it will be a situation on weeks like this one will be spent in a beer garden and getting food from the supermarkets to have an impromptu BBQ and still get paid for it.

We decided in this country to listen to the climate change deniers of UKIP, which was unfortunate.

If there was a maximum there would have to be exceptions.

One small step would be to have public buildings open in the evenings during such temperatures, so that those who cannot afford aircon at home could get some respite. Another that could be adopted in a couple of years would be to adopt French time, where you would have one hour more of a cooler morning in effect. Not all people could start and finish work at different times in the summer.

it was much more than the odd week lurker.

And what food from the supermarket are you talking about Havent you seen the news today and what its doing to crops.

I guess although you are happy to minimize these issues you arent prepared to put your money where your mouth is and volunteer to take the hit of any food or water shortage that arises.

"One small step would be to have public buildings open in the evenings during such temperatures, so that those who cannot afford aircon at home could get some respite"

Brilliant idea.

HelenaDove introduced in Canada after the high temperatures in 2003 (Montreal perhaps?)

And what about public transport Whats the excuse there? They would be prosecuted for transporting cattle in the same temperatures.

I love how British everyone here is, moaning about the weather as per usual.

@Helena, just be glad you're not carrying around the 10st of extra weight anymore

None of those heatwaves hit Scotland. The daily mail goes on about Britain seeing temperatures of over 30c, last time I looked Scotland was still in the UK and normal service has resumed 20c and drizzly!

YANBU - I've done my share of working in kitchens, nursing homes, shops in ridiculous heat - and the uniform for all 3 included tights! Which the employers would not give an inch on - absolutely NO practical reason for wearing tights.

Dd is out of school now and luckily working for a sensible employer who has air con, let them wear cooler clothes and even provided cold drinks and ices!

The NUMEROUS threads on here though with mners reporting schools INSISTING on pupils wearing sweaters and Blazers (sometimes both!) in a heatwave is utterly ludicrous and potentially a health risk. Pupils with certain health conditions will have trouble regulating body heat. But for any child having to sit in stuffy classrooms in uniform suitable for winter and in some cases not even allowed to keep water handy is CRAZY! When I was at school we had summer uniforms - gingham dresses for the girls, shorts & polo shirts for boys. Absolutely no reason why smart shorts & polo shirts can't be uniform now (but then I think school uniforms are a ridiculous idea anyway).

Yes there should be a max, just as there's a min - I've worked in cold environments too, where the temp is below the legal min, they have legal exemptions and rules on how that's managed (appropriate clothing, frequent breaks etc) so no reason that can't be done for hot temps too.

Yaffingale (some username would love to know the origin) it IS becoming the norm due to climate change. I'm in the west of Scotland, I've only lived here 10 years but I've noticed warmer drier summers here year on year, while I didn't grow up here my family are from here & we visited regularly, usually in summer holidays - apart from '76 I don't remember weather like this 20/30/40 years ago. It rarely went above 25* iirc (I've tried googling for data but think I need to be a meteorologist or stats analyst to understand!).

Agree our buildings & town planning aren't suited to this weather - the glasgow science centre roof melted!

@graphista we had that one really hot stretch where it hit over 30c (which I sat in a stuffy office in a listed building through) but up here we rarely see that kind of weather, I remember in June being outside at 7.30am and it was already really hot. That’s unusual and normally morning and evening is cool. I just hope we get some more sun as this cloudy muggy heat is pish!

It is pish! I had some chores to do today, hoped not too taxing as temps cooler but it's SO humid! I've got a headache now I'm sure due to that.

Are there not bigger issues? It’s hardly 50 degrees is it. Wear cotton and drink water.

I normally work from home and managed today in my hot attic office by angling my chair to get the slightest zephyr between the front and back windows and starting at 6.30 am. On a three day course tomorrow in what I have remembered will be airless room, with just some very high set windows and definitely no aircon. Oh god.

@graphista it is really humid and loads of people are complaining of headaches and it’s definitely related.

I am sure our Firefighters will laugh at the thought of this. Some people work in horrific places and get on with it.

My Kitchen reached 62 degrees with 91 percent humidity today.
We were absolutely packed with customers because nobody wants to cook because it's so hot.

Crochet thats my one silver lining.

catplots bloody hell.

Anyone else work in a primary school where children are still not coming in with a hat or water bottle? No matter how many emails/texts we send out to parents they are ignoring the fact it is VERY HOT!!

@oracle2811 ... agree

Good grief the country would come to a stand still if we had maximum working temperatures!

I think a lot of people just need to put their big girl pants on and deal with it.

My DH is a police officer - he still has to wear his stab vest to work - im a nurse - do you agree that we should be able to not work in maximum temps ??

I doubt it !!

There is, it's 40°c unless airconditioning or other means of temperature control are provided. It's a human rights thing rather than a workers rights thing iirc.

And as for "piddly little fans" try working on a hospital ward .

We have 2 fans for staff for the whole entire ward . We are quite literally cooking from the inside out.

Human rights🙄

Lets see people talk about human rights when the public sector and other essential services decide to stay off because its too hot.

Really surprised to see these posts from a nurse i would have thought the last thing the NHS needed added to their workload was treating more patients with heatstroke.

NoMudNoLotus Or you could have air con at work as most hospitals in warmer countries have them as the norm.

It's pointless comparing firefighters and soldiers to your average Joe that's working in B&M or a pub kitchen- first two categories are required to be in peak physical condition, the latter not so much.

Side note, but I vaguely recall there being some studies that it's good for businesses to be welcoming temperature wise as people will go in to cool down/ warm up and therefore spend more money on stuff.