When does hot become unworkable and dangerous ? : ***Announcement made Sat 16-Page 6***

[yellowbelly]

Who has decided in the first place that it is acceptable to walk miles in this heat when all health experts are saying its life threatening? 32 in the shade here now, finished at 11.30, van thermometer said 33 when we parked up.

Rickyyyyyy (RM) - and Dave Joyce (CWU) appears to have no objections to it: viewtopic.php?p=985899#p985899

[kashmir58]

Come in early………and double lapsing

The company that cares

[krussel]

Pretty poor from the CWU to be honest - I don’t think 35 degrees is a great starting point for manual labour when your workforce is comprised mostly of older people. Significant parts of England are going to touch 40 degrees tomorrow, and the union is leaving most of the staff to fend for themselves. They know full well that there’s an implied pressure once you’ve taken the work out, and few of us have any reliable means of gauging temperature on the ground.

I personally don’t think deliveries should go ahead at all tomorrow, but if they do, there should be an ironclad cut-off time. We all have the forecasts at our disposal - 30 degrees by 10am seems likely based off of them. It’s alright coming in early, but the vans come at the same time meaning that you’re going out the door just as a warm morning is melting into a hot day. And no amount of warm water or stops in the shade alleviates the symptoms of the heat, anything from tiredness to elevated heart-rate and difficulty breathing.

It’s pretty gutless to have a document saying that red weather warnings will lead to the suspension of deliveries, only to communicate to members that, if it goes beyond really hot to hellishly hot, they’ll back you if you come back off delivery. Back us in the first place before we go out on delivery, and we wouldn’t have to perform an ongoing risk assessment while being in a less than optimal state of body and mind to perform such things. Still, that’s the CWU for you. When was the last time our union men did a delivery on a hot or busy day?

Nailed it. Well said and VERY true

[CharlesG]

RM would not suspend all deliveries during red weather warning as at some times the weather is seen as tolerable.
The magic number of 35C was implemented as this seems to be main difference from Amber to Red warning. Also body temp is 37c approx so going above this is dangerous and can lead to heat exhaustion. Its been deemed ok at below 35C as in amber warning areas staff would be deemed ok to work in 34c temps.
Main thing that has been added and needs to be communicated is people can make personal decisions to return to office if unwell or feeling effects of severe heat.
You have to look after yourself, and make sure you are ok.

[darkknight34]

All our duties went out today. It's Monday so it was light. I was one of the last back at 1230 (basically because I like to take my meal relief out on the ground).

Highest Temperature I had was 33, felt hotter because we didn't have the refreshing breeze we've previously had.

Here's an idea instead of ranting & raving on here about who should be doing what ... Just act like a grown up, use your own common sense and if you feel it's too hot ... kick it into touch and return to base. I'm sure most of the Management will have disappeared by midday anyway.

Well said, I had the paramedics out to me a few years back and that was only 31 degrees and my manager just said you are responsible for your own safety on delivery. Words I live by today, if its too hot come back and if he says anything i'll remind him of those words.

[norris9]

saw some article the other day that a union is trying to put into law that anyone doing physical labour should not have to work in temperatures above 25 degrees.

Seems a bit low, I would say 30 degrees would be a more sensible temperature and 25 degrees is fairly common in the Summer and tolerable.

I guess it depends what job you do. I am sure there are some grim jobs out there to do in the heat. Probably anything to do with sewage or road working.

Maybe they should try to put into law that all company vehicles should have working air conditioning.

[1560loopsayear]

Must admit the start & finish an hour early helped today as it was relatively cloudy and cool early doors, soon as the sun came out the temp. shot up thankfully we finished before the real heat hit. Tomorrow we are starting from a much warmer base, and I reckon many will go over the 35c barrier before 1pm.

[PAClark543]

Our Dom said today that we would all be called back in tomorrow if the Met office temperature for our area hits 35c. People seem to forget that 35c is a shade temperature. My garden thermometer hit it's maximum of 55c today when left in the sun. I have a 5 hour walk with a trolley and very little shade so was probably out in temperatures that way exceed the magic 35c!

[Dorset Plodder]

saw some article the other day that a union is trying to put into law that anyone doing physical labour should not have to work in temperatures above 25 degrees.
Seems a bit low, I would say 30 degrees would be a more sensible temperature and 25 degrees is fairly common in the Summer and tolerable.
I guess it depends what job you do. I am sure there are some grim jobs out there to do in the heat. Probably anything to do with sewage or road working.
Maybe they should try to put into law that all company vehicles should have working air conditioning.

I've encountered this problem in a previous life Norris. You have to bear in mind that not one size fits all. The problem with having a MAX Temperature is: Industries like Foundries or Engineering with Smelting Works, Kitchens or places with Pizza Ovens.

TBH AirCon in my van would be totally pointless, it takes a bit of time to kick in and by then I'm parked up (in the shade), switched off and back out with another loop of mail. Ironically I've got AirCon in my car, but on the way home I'd rather have the windows open, because I like my music LOUD!

[2yearpostie]

Hopefully this puts the later start times in focus for simple simon, under his plan we wouldnt have delivered anything the past 2 days if we had a midday start time.

[WASD]

Just got called back for 12pm. Colour me surprised!

[SpacePhoenix]

Hopefully this puts the later start times in focus for simple simon, under his plan we wouldnt have delivered anything the past 2 days if we had a midday start time.

The later start times is a knock-on affect if RM ever were to axe a load of Skynet flights

[Foxel]

...but on the way home I'd rather have the windows open, because I like my music LOUD!

Why do you need your windows open to enjoy loud music? Do you mean you want other people to enjoy it with you?

[Foxel]

Told we could come back to the DO when the temp on the met office website reached 35. It is updated hourly . Every other website or app had us between 35 and 37 from 11:00. So we stayed out and finished, we got lucky with mail and parcels. Like yesterday, I expect i'll be laid up with a migraine shortly. Funny I didn't see my manager when I got back to the DO.

[Dorset Plodder]

...but on the way home I'd rather have the windows open, because I like my music LOUD!

Why do you need your windows open to enjoy loud music? Do you mean you want other people to enjoy it with you?

If have my windows closed the Music's TOO Loud! But on second thoughts Yes I want all the Silver Surfers & Coffin Dodgers to enjoy the Foo Fighters as well!