To think there should be a maximum working temperature?

[RaggedBlousedPhilanthropist]

I work in a non-air conditioninged office.

it’s a public facing role so we can’t work from home unless we’re soley doing admin stuff.

it’s just too hot today!

I know if it goes under a certain temperature (16-degrees?) they are meant to send us home, but this is just too much!

🥵

@Rosewaterblossom i disagree I’m missing the point actually.

PPE can be made of various materials and in instances it absolutely can’t then the individual should be allowed more opportunity to take a break not wearing it., in the case of extreme temperatures and no other mitigations available. Builders allowed to take more breaks to remove hardhats and heavy protective clothing, HCP’s to remove layers of plastic.

Theres still going to be certain professions such as firefighters who will always have heavy PPE but then theirs is at least designed to reflect heat. No idea if that’s also effective in hot weather.

Manual workers who wear PPE just don't think like this. Take extra breaks? FFS. There isn't gossip time at the kettle, we do tend to just get on with the job.

Ok, what kind of manual workers are you referring to that can’t possibly ever get a break?

FYI I’ve worked in the NHS and Care Homes for a couple of decades in back office and delivering care, including throughout the pandemic so I’m not coming from an inexperienced angle. If you’re in a similar area and can’t get breaks then that’s down to your management and staffing levels, both of which are issues that shouldn’t be a barrier to bringing in detailed legislation. Crap management and understaffing are both things we should be striving to improve making fulfilling legal obligations realistic. Its simplistic but it’s the bare facts.

if this is going to be our regular climate then we need to recognise and address it.

No, my work is very far removed from the NHS or Care work. PPE is their to provide safety for workers, I'd rather avoid getting 3rd degree burns at work over not wearing the appropriate PPE during a 2 day heatwave. The rest of the time outside the week of the year we get really hot weather it's fine.

Staffing, well its well know that recruitment in many jobs is shit at the moment because the jobs are advertised but if no one applies, then it can't be helped.