I have seen in the local paper that some schools are shutting, the article mentioned pupils getting too hot sat by the big windows at a modern school that’s not that old, and they would get nauseous and unwell in the classroom.
Some older Victorian buildings would be a nightmare with old sash windows, and no air conditioning as it could be a listed building.
Can a driver refuse to work in the heat, a few years ago, I nearly collapsed from strapping down a load of fertiliser at Ince?
The night shift drivers have it good at the moment but not for sleeping in day.
How hot is excessive?
When wharfies were more militant and had to do more physical work, they could knock off if the temperature hit 40⁰C (or 100+⁰F).
I used to work in ambients up to 50⁰ (122F), for me far more preferred than sub 20⁰.
The UK law for working conditions only applies to the temperature in the winter and not the summer.
It’s predicted we will get two months or more of summer heat for the temperature of 46 degrees or more.
Air conditioning in UK homes has not really caught on, nor as buying portable air conditioning units that cost pennies per hour to run, I have one in the bedroom and one for the lounge and it’s the best purchase I have ever made for the health benefits and a good night’s sleep.
In the future, will the UK adopt the Siesta, of which the continent has been doing for hundreds of years for a 3 to 4 hour lunch break for factories, schools, businesses, offices, hospitality and retail that’s shut then all the staff come back after a snooze at home, cook a homemade meal, to then work later in to the evening when it’s much cooler, it’s normal to eat the evening meal at about 22.00 to 23.00?
I feel for those tramping sleeping in there trucks this weather.
I did it for many years when was younger and was a few times heat was like this.
Coudlt do it now.
Then again places I’ve worked for didn’t care if you had engine running parked up with aircon on.
I believe a lot of places complain if you do that to cool down.
I am affected a lot by cold, and not so much by heat, but, from my time in Southern Europe I would say, do not turn the truck air-con onto max coolness. If you do so, the heat will affect you twice as much when you do need to go out and work. Use air-con by all means, but do not keep it too cold.
Drink plenty of water. In dry heat your clothes may not be wet with sweat, but that is because your perspiration is evaporating quickly. Your body is still using a lot of fluids.
Cold beers are nice, but plain water is best to replace what your body is using.
Used to do regular Euro work in the early 90s, mostly to Itie and Spain and didn’t have the luxury of air con but managed ok . Mozzies in the cab when trying to sleep were a ball ache though.
About 20 odd years ago I bought a mini digger and dug myself a 2 metre deep pond up in the shade of the trees. Best thing I ever did, until last winter I swam in it everyday of the year but for the moment it is a wonderful place to escape the sun and heat. I share it with all sorts of little animals including Hissing Sid and his lady Missing Sid. At half a metre long and non venomous they are terrified of me and race for their nest whenever I arrive.
You do know that the typical uk weather year consists of 2 weeks of snow, 2 weeks of sunshine and 48 weeks of grey wet miserable weather? and I don’t see me spending £420+ on an aircon unit from Argos for it to be stuck in the loft for 50 weeks of the year.
I have multiple fans in the house and I haven’t used any of them so far, and the curtains are closed where the sun shines directly through them and I have windows open when necessary for ventilation. The only compromise is that I have a fly screen across my balcony so that I can leave the door open for ventilation
Top tip; a couple of hours before you go to bed in the house open the loft hatch. Hot air rises and it all goes in there with the spiders, cobwebs and Christmas decorations.
For some people drinking too much water can flush out the salts in the body, I suppose the trick is to drink enough so the urine comes out clear to know the kidneys are functioning normally.
