Union's position on working in extreme heat?

Post by **rambo1** » 24 Jul 2018, 07:10

eastie wrote:Another problem with heat on Park and Loop is getting in and out of blistering hot vans with semi rural rounds with no shade.
Drunk 3 litres of flavoured water today for 5 hours on delivery during the hottest part of the day with 33 degrees on the dash thermometer and not one piss all day feeling faint by the time I finished. This is punishing

My van dash yesterday said 39 degrees when I got back to it after a 30 min loop! Ok that wasn't the real temp outside, it went down to a mere 33 after 10 mins driving. Still pretty hot though. Gotta drink so much. Don't forget to drink at home too. Pre hydrate before work and don't forget to drink during indoor prep before going out too.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 24 Jul 2018, 18:28

rambo1 wrote:
eastie wrote:Another problem with heat on Park and Loop is getting in and out of blistering hot vans with semi rural rounds with no shade.
Drunk 3 litres of flavoured water today for 5 hours on delivery during the hottest part of the day with 33 degrees on the dash thermometer and not one piss all day feeling faint by the time I finished. This is punishing
My van dash yesterday said 39 degrees when I got back to it after a 30 min loop! Ok that wasn't the real temp outside, it went down to a mere 33 after 10 mins driving. Still pretty hot though. Gotta drink so much. Don't forget to drink at home too. Pre hydrate before work and don't forget to drink during indoor prep before going out too.

And where will you piss all this out not all goes out in sweat what a marvellous plan except your bladder can only contain 2 litres max do you know the kind of damage you could do to your kidneys!

Chris413 · Post by **Chris413** » 24 Jul 2018, 18:34

k979aaa wrote:
rambo1 wrote:
eastie wrote:Another problem with heat on Park and Loop is getting in and out of blistering hot vans with semi rural rounds with no shade.
Drunk 3 litres of flavoured water today for 5 hours on delivery during the hottest part of the day with 33 degrees on the dash thermometer and not one piss all day feeling faint by the time I finished. This is punishing
My van dash yesterday said 39 degrees when I got back to it after a 30 min loop! Ok that wasn't the real temp outside, it went down to a mere 33 after 10 mins driving. Still pretty hot though. Gotta drink so much. Don't forget to drink at home too. Pre hydrate before work and don't forget to drink during indoor prep before going out too.
And where will you piss all this out not all goes out in sweat what a marvellous plan except your bladder can only contain 2 litres max do you know the kind of damage you could do to your kidneys!

Yeah especially when your in a town on a foot route.

krussel · Post by **krussel** » 24 Jul 2018, 19:32

I put a thermometer out in the sun yesterday and it shot up to 48 degs c. It will go over 50 degs c before the week is out. Predicted temp in the SE is 34 dges on friday.

iceman1277 · Post by **iceman1277** » 24 Jul 2018, 19:42

Mangers dont care just told to drink lots and stay out of miday sun and we got extra lapsing just so we stay out. manger only cares about hitting target so they get the bonus.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 24 Jul 2018, 19:49

The CWU's position is entirely the same as the Royal Mail's position. Its not their company so they can only try and mitigate the circumstances. So they will inform us just like the company does to take plenty of fluids on board and try your best to keep cool. What they might add to this is that you also take your breaks and even take your time because there really isn't much point in rushing round in weather like this.

Anyone expecting the Union to push for a much shorter delivery span given the conditions will be sadly mistaken.

iceman1277 · Post by **iceman1277** » 24 Jul 2018, 20:03

postslippete wrote:The CWU's position is entirely the same as the Royal Mail's position. Its not their company so they can only try and mitigate the circumstances. So they will inform us just like the company does to take plenty of fluids on board and try your best to keep cool. What they might add to this is that you also take your breaks and even take your time because there really isn't much point in rushing round in weather like this.

Anyone expecting the Union to push for a much shorter delivery span given the conditions will be sadly mistaken.

Be nice if we didnt have to do the lapsing that would save us 20 min in the mid day sun.

Matt123 · Post by **Matt123** » 24 Jul 2018, 20:48

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

matt_1983 · Post by **matt_1983** » 24 Jul 2018, 21:01

Since this heat wave began, as well as extra lapsing, if we get back early, we are often made to go back out to deliver packets or even loops of mail that the DOM has held back for this reason.

I understand that there is now a push for us to “work our hours” but there is no fairness in how this is being done, and its surely just punishing us younger/faster guys who might walk at a faster pace. Surely if all the walks have been planned and signed off as being equal, they shouldnt just decide that if we get back half an hour or so earlier than someone else we have to go back out to do more.

And the fact this is all happening in this heat, with no mention of this from any of the managers, is just really demoralising. Ive refused to go back out a couple of times because i really felt like i physically couldnt do anymore.

The walks i do all have lots of steps and hills and even when im talking about getting back early, i would still have been out there a minimum of 4.5 hours.

miles_peters · Post by **miles_peters** » 24 Jul 2018, 21:09

now its about to get scary...

Wednesday 86
Thursday 90
Friday 90

the 3 busiest days of the week

by 10 am its going to be 80 degrees

the battle for survival is about to begin. good luck everyone, hope to see you on the other side.

Chris413 · Post by **Chris413** » 24 Jul 2018, 21:38

At the moment I physically feel sick worrying about the next 3 days, we all know how hard it is on these days in normal weather, but a lot of us are not spring chickens to start with and these temps are worrying me stupid. I am on a foot route and theirs barely any shade on the route, where the hell am I supposed to protect myself from the heat. Even the water I am carrying is hot by 10:00. I am on trial and have a feeling if I try to cut off because of walking at a slower speed it will go against me.

Post by **Brandy** » 24 Jul 2018, 22:24

I really really do feel for all you posties,just hope that its not going to be as hot as what they say.

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 24 Jul 2018, 22:26

Invest in a decent thermo water bottle ( Chilly's on Amazon) stick it in the fridge the night before and it will be cold all day, don't freeze it unless you want to carry a block of ice around with you

Post by **Brandy** » 24 Jul 2018, 22:28

You never know RM may even cancel the lapsing they are such a caring company,but somehow I doubt it!!

abuch1980 · Post by **abuch1980** » 24 Jul 2018, 22:39

It's alright telling us to drink water and wear suncream but the amount of stuff in our trolleys is so much that there isn't even room for water bottle n sun cream etc!!