Union's position on working in extreme heat?

[Chris413]

This is getting seriously ridiculous!

[postslippete]

I'm wondering if the CWU have the same idea

Working outdoors in the heat? Know your rights
Many employers are shirking their responsibilities when it comes to protecting outdoor workers in hot weather
When the thermometer starts to rise, there’s usually a lot of guidance in the papers and websites about how to keep cool at work.

This is often aimed at people who work in offices, factories, schools and other buildings, but what about those who work outdoors?

Employers tend to say that there is nothing that they can do for outdoor workers as you can’t control temperatures outside in the same way as you can indoors. After all, fans and air conditioning don’t work on the street or in a field.

Yet every summer millions of outdoor workers face the risk of skin cancer, dehydration and heat stress as well as the increased risk of an accident happening because of the tiredness and lack of concentration that working in the heat can bring.

In fact, there is a lot that you can do to protect outdoor workers – it’s just not happening

Very few employers even include heat/sun exposure in their risk assessment, despite the HSE saying that 4,500 skin cancers a year are a result of outside working.

Instead, employers just tell their workers to wear sunscreen or cover up.

Employers should not be putting responsibility on to their workers to take measures; they should be doing proper risk assessments that include the danger of getting skin cancer, dehydration, heat stress and sunstroke.

And if there is any risk, they must take action.

So what can employers do?

While you cannot change when the sun is going to shine, you can change when workers are exposed.

For outside workers in sectors like construction and agriculture you can vary working practices so that less outside work needs to be done either in the hottest months or the hottest time of the day (11:00-15:00).

Often it is possible to organise work in summer so that the tasks that require the employees to be outside can be done either in the mornings or late afternoon, or on cloudy days.

Employers can also provide canopies, sheeting, or similar covering over open areas such as building sites where people are working and ensure there are shaded areas for breaks.

If work does have to be done outside in the sun, then workers should be provided with sunscreen and cool water.

The employer should also issue lightweight long-sleeved protective clothing that allows heat to escape as well as lightweight brimmed hats if safety helmets are not needed.

Far too many employers say that workers should provide these themselves, yet the provision of fresh water and free protective equipment, including sunscreen, is a legal right not an add-on

And of course, it's not just workers in construction and agriculture who are at risk

Millions of other workers spend most of their time outdoors, including postal workers, parking control officers and street cleaners.

They also need more than just a relaxed dress code in the summer, so if you're a safety representative with any members working outside in the heat we have just now, check out the TUC guide to working in heat

Interesting comments but can you imagine asking posties if they would rather prefer starting their delivery at 9am or sometime after 3pm, which one do you think that they would choose? You are right about other outdoor workers like builders and labourers, they probably wouldn't mind working later in the day with canopies and shaded areas to cool off from. Our job is different because in my experience posties just want to get the job done and go home.

I agree that our employers could be more proactive in providing us with water bottles or getting sun hats ordered, perhaps even wearing hi-vis that does not seem to attract the heat would also be bonus. Maybe in years to come workers will sue their employers for getting skin cancer for working outdoors or having accidents as a result of poor air con in vans, but I can't see it happening just yet.

[SpacePhoenix]

Interesting comments but can you imagine asking posties if they would rather prefer starting their delivery at 9am or sometime after 3pm, which one do you think that they would choose?

Unfortunately starting actually delivering at 9am won't happen, with the arrival patterns of mail into MCs, if anything it's only a matter of time before the all the runs from MCs to DOs get pushed back by at least an hour. Partly to allow time for wave 2 sequencing, some walks must be getting at least double the amount of manual than sequenced on wave 2 where the work comes in later

[Phantom]

We've got members leaving loops in, in order to take more breaks - you manage your own health and safety in this temperature just like you would in the snow.

RM don't give two sh***s about you, if you're struggling in this heat then do the above. There are no prizes for completing a delivery so think about yourself and not RM.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Not a position but here is a "leaked" letter from the CWUs head of H&S to Royal Mail Top Bods

Communication Workers Union
Dave Joyce National Health & Safety Officer
150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX

Our Reference: P26/DJ/lmp

24 July 2018


Urgent



Andy Pearson
Chair National Joint Escalations Committee
Royal Mail Group Head of Letters and Network Field Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Operations

Andy,

Re: RM Delivery Workforce - Heatwave Conditions and Sun Safety

Given the extreme heat with a level 3, Amber Heatwave Warning/Alert in place and temperatures hitting 35C or 95F across the country I have been asked by Reps and members across the country to find out what can be done to enforce the hot weather plans issued by the Royal Mail SHE team to ensure Delivery Office Managers take appropriate compliance action to ensure the safety and health of the outdoor workforce who are suffering from blistering heat, sunburn, heat exhaustion and dehydration risks.

Deployment of the Severe Weather Risk Assessment measures are vital and I would again request that Royal Mail Managers be told to take appropriate action and fully comply with Royal Mail Safety standards and guidance as the advice from the Met Office is that people stay out of the sun.

If we had heavy Snow, Mail Deliveries would be modified, reduced or even cancelled. However this isn't happening in this intolerable heat and sunlight.

Our Area Health and Safety Reps report that Common sense isn't being applied and local Delivery Office Managers and Opps Managers are doing little or nothing to reduce the risks of long exposure to Sunlight and Heat, e.g. suspensions, shortening deliveries, reducing delivery spans, earlier start and finish times for the duration of this weather etc.

Additionally, I think that the time is right to ensure Bottled Water and Sun Block is be provided by Royal Mail to all Delivery Staff to reduce dehydration, heat stroke, skin damage and the occupational risk of organ damage and skin cancer.

We have the Royal Mail SHE guidance and instructions to Delivery Management in place which is acknowledged but we need compliance to keep our people safe in the heat and sun, protecting their health and well-being.

Your urgent attention would be gratefully appreciated.

Yours sincerely



Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[LaggyBand]

How is the word “LAPSING” not in there??

[crimson king]

And, everyone keeps banging on about extra water and keeping hydrated, but there's ever any mention of how we're supposed to get rid of all this extra fluid other than sweating like a colour blind bomb disposal expert holding the snips over two wires.

Do these heath and safety bods just assume we're pissing in bottles in the back of the van or sneaking a slash up against the rose bushes when the house owner isn't looking?

I'm not expecting portaloos to be installed on every duty, but something should be in place at the best of times, let alone when it's almost 90 degrees and we're all waddling around like over inflated balloons about to burst at any second.

But no, let's stick our heads in the sand. Tell the posties to pay for sun cream out of their own pockets, walk in imaginary shade (I do, with my imaginary friend, Dom Givesashit), drink plenty of extra fluids and piss their pants if they have to. They'll dry out in no time in this heat. Pass the holiday brochures, must spend this bonus, pip pip!

[ewancurze]

Well,tomorrow, on the last day of the heatwave they are finally getting a few early sorters in so we can get out "early".

[korky]

(I do, with my imaginary friend, Dom Givesashit),

i've been hallucinating, saw an oasis at end of my last street,
ran as quick as possible whilst posting letters and all what was there was your mate sucking on a walls funny feet with some extra lapsing for me

[twisted_racer]

Just a thought but maybe investing in a water bladder camelbak might be good?
I've been a postie for a few years and returning in a week time in the middle of this mental heatwave and I'm scooping up a waterbladder to save me because I've had kidney infections in the past due to holding in my bladder during christmas from 5am to 3pm. Knock on hotels, or even a local shop and ask them for their toilet amenities. My DOM has picked up that I would sometime stop and drive to the nearest Tesco for a slash and said well, it's 10 mins off my time or a week off with a kidney infection
However I'm going to a wee town so here's to hoping I can make a few friends to ask nicely to use their toilet, a packet of digestives or jaffa cakes never fails to please them

[A2B]

Well,tomorrow, on the last day of the heatwave they are finally getting a few early sorters in so we can get out "early".

Next week will be down to mid 20's but after that it will pick up again, weather forecasters who i trust are saying August is going to be our hottest month

[LaggyBand]

If health and safety is more important than profit surely it would be a real easy gesture to simply call off all lapsing for now.

Start there.

[mattjo1@talktalk.net]

Do Fire Fighters work in the sun. Yes

Do Road Workers work in the heat. Yes

Do Bin Men work in the heat. Yes

Man up people.

[Chris413]

Do Fire Fighters work in the sun. Yes

Do Road Workers work in the heat. Yes

Do Bin Men work in the heat. Yes

Man up people.

Should watch the news to realise most of the people just mentioned there are now on early starts, there have been drivers moaning because of road works starting early, bin men in our area have been on early shifts to finish before the midday heat. Can't comment on firefighters but they are well supplied with fluids to get them through.

[miles_peters]

Do Fire Fighters work in the sun. Yes

Do Road Workers work in the heat. Yes

Do Bin Men work in the heat. Yes

Man up people.

your argument does not stand up no matter how many times you hit and run repeat it on this forum.

get educated and grow up