Met Office Red Weather Warning [Risk To Life]

[6Foot2]

Link: UK weather warnings - Met Office

 

 

The red warning is (currently) in force, covering the same area, today and tomorrow (15:00 to 02:00)

 

Red warning

 

• Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather.
  
• It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

[6Foot2]

The Met Office has issued a red (extreme heat) weather warning for Monday and Tuesday:

 

Link: UK weather warnings - Met Office

 

[DeGrimmy]

And here we are, trying to argue that shorts for male staff are a necessity early next week! Quite frankly, I think the schools should be closed...

[DalekSec]

Not even the sun wants to go to Newcastle by looks of it

[Ironside]

Has there ever been a Red Weather Warning for a heatwave before? Curious if this is Climate Change or if this just happens sometimes.

[6Foot2]

Has there ever been a Red Weather Warning for a heatwave before? Curious if this is Climate Change or if this just happens sometimes.

 

The greater frequency of weather events (warranting a weather warning) and the greater the effect/consequences of the weather events, I would say is a sure indication of climate change.

 

This is the first red weather warning for extreme heat. They were introduced last year as a category.

[kennysarmy]

Our kids are apparently still going out for a house rounders comp. on Monday (Cheltenham) - madness?

[Jawloms]

We are supposed to be having Zorbs on Monday for our year 8s.........

[Dos_Box]

Here in Preston it is predicted to be in the mid-30's on Tuesday, which will probably translate to close to 40 degrees outdoors.

I've worked in those temps (and higher) before and it wasn't nice. But then again, I was in the middle east and Carribean.

It will be windows open, blinds down and fan on in the living room for me on Monday/Tuesday I think.

 

*I know 'they' say to keep it cooler you should close the windows, but I find that doesn't work once silly heat levels arrive.

[hardtailstar]

And here we are, trying to argue that shorts for male staff are a necessity early next week! Quite frankly, I think the schools should be closed...

I'm allowed to take my tie off if I get too hot....

 

Kids all in PE kit, female staff in whatever.

 

But on the plus side, my office is air conditioned.

[Mrpower]

I'm sure I am not the only one in an office space without air-con. All I have is a fan and a window and according to the thermometer I have next to me which reads, 81F and 27C and my phone says the outside temperature is 21C. I wonder if I could catch one of those 48 hour flu's next week. Thankfully the school allows shorts, rather than my last school which demanded I wear a suit in 25C weather.

[DeGrimmy]

I'm allowed to take my tie off if I get too hot....

 

Kids all in PE kit, female staff in whatever.

 

But on the plus side, my office is air conditioned.

The concessions in the risk assessment that male non-PE staff have been given so far are "You can wear short sleeved shirts" (some already do here) "Or smart polo shirts". I've argued for smart shorts with the short sleeved shirts or polo shirts at the very least, but since students are allowed PE kits all day, surely we should be able to wear PE kit-like things as well...

 

We moved from an office with AC to a much bigger room without it during the pandemic, and we're definitely missing it.

Edited July 15, 2022 by DeGrimmy

[elsiegee40]

Has there ever been a Red Weather Warning for a heatwave before? Curious if this is Climate Change or if this just happens sometimes.

 

It hit 38.1 in Gravesend in 2020, 38.7 in Cambridge in 2019 and 38.5 in Faversham, Kent in 2003.

 

These extremes do happen, but seem to be occurring more frequently which isn’t good news.

[Andrew_C]

*I know 'they' say to keep it cooler you should close the windows, but I find that doesn't work once silly heat levels arrive.

Keep the windows and blinds closed on the sunny side, open up once the sun is off the windows (or ground just outside). I've put solar blinds on the bedrooms facing west - made a big difference.

[paulkerton]

We are in the thick of the red warning zone and are closing early both days.

I assume I'm in all day for both, mind you!

 

I'm also in an office with a locked door (as we only have one key and the keyholder is off sick) and no window that can open. Just had to open the nearest firedoor as my CO2 level nearly hit 2000ppm.

Gonna be fun next week if we can't open the door!

Edited July 15, 2022 by paulkerton

[Koldov]

And here we are, trying to argue that shorts for male staff are a necessity early next week! Quite frankly, I think the schools should be closed...

 

 

Is there something in your dress code that says you cannot wear shorts (If so, don't argue... wear a skirt!) or is it that you must wear trousers...?

 

No air-con here, luckily I do have a window (although only small top vent opens) and I managed to find a smallish desktop fan in a cupboard a few years ago when it was last silly hot (nobody seems to have missed it yet, so it's now officially mine).

 

Come Monday, I think I will have a lot of work to do in the server room (because at least that has air-conditioning)...

[DeGrimmy]

Is there something in your dress code that says you cannot wear shorts (If so, don't argue... wear a skirt!) or is it that you must wear trousers...?

 

This is the quote from our staff handbook:

 

"For most staff, formal office attire is the most appropriate. For men, this means shirt and tie, suit or smart trousers and a jacket."

 

As IT Support, we've been given some concessions - We don't have to wear a jacket or tie. There's nothing either way about shorts in the handbook, but it's always been a flat "No" from SLT when it's been mentioned in the past.

 

If shorts are rejected again, I'm very much considering borrowing a skirt from my girlfriend!

[paulkerton]

"For most staff, formal office attire is the most appropriate. For men, this means shirt and tie, suit or smart trousers and a jacket."

Of course the irony of this is, most office spaces have ditched ties in particular! Schools are always several years behind the mainstream, in most things they do.

[Koldov]

I'm also in an office with a locked door (as we only have one key and the keyholder is off sick) and no window that can open.

 

That actually sounds like you've just been locked in an office and forgotten about (how do you get in and out)!

 

One key, is that actually allowed?

 

This is the quote from our staff handbook:

 

"For most staff, formal office attire is the most appropriate. For men, this means shirt and tie, suit or smart trousers and a jacket."

 

Yeah, I would see that as a big loophole... I guess you could just say you are not 'most staff' and it is not 'most appropriate'.

 

I suppose it also depends a little on the 'type' of school you are working in as well?

 

If you are in one of the schools whose handbook was written on a cold, dark day in the early 1900s, you might not have much luck asking for it to be reviewed for the modern age... but as it seems to be generally accepted this sort of summer temperature will become the norm, you could ask when the air-con for each room is going to be put in the budget...?

 

About time someone chipped in with some rules and regulations on maximum working temps...?

 

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

 

There’s no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures, eg when it’s too cold or too hot to work.

 

However, guidance suggests a minimum of 16ºC or 13ºC if employees are doing physical work.

 

There’s no guidance for a maximum temperature limit.

 

Employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:

 

keeping the temperature at a comfortable level

providing clean and fresh air

Employees should talk to their employer if the workplace temperature isn’t comfortable.

Edited July 15, 2022 by Koldov

[Jay241]

And here we are, trying to argue that shorts for male staff are a necessity early next week! Quite frankly, I think the schools should be closed...

 

Exactly the same. But somehow i think it will get refused at my school. Dont understand how its appropriate for Women to wear skirts and its fine, but not okay for us to wear work shorts....

[hardtailstar]

 

If shorts are rejected again, I'm very much considering borrowing a skirt from my girlfriend!

 

I'm trying to find my Kilt. Not worn it for years, hopefully still fits.

 

I'll get a lot of strange looks wearing it in the south of Kent.

[psydii]

And here we are, trying to argue that shorts for male staff are a necessity early next week! Quite frankly, I think the schools should be closed...

 

I've just been given the nod to stand up full remote teaching/learning capabilities for Monday.

[hardtailstar]

Of course the irony of this is, most office spaces have ditched ties in particular! Schools are always several years behind the mainstream, in most things they do.

My new job has a dress code of "wear what you like except pajamas"

 

I did ask if there was restrictions that people were frowned upon for wearing, apparently there isn't but generally it's suitable every day clothing.

[paulkerton]

That actually sounds like you've just been locked in an office and forgotten about (how do you get in and out)!

 

One key, is that actually allowed?

 

Hahaha. We have an internal door (I have a key for that one) and an external door (I don't have a key for that one) which because I can't open the room has no ventilation.

To be fair, I had to kick up a massive stink when our previous office had a fly infestation and the toilets above it were flooding into it, and the prevailing attitude was "suck it up" from facilities. So not having a door/window that can open and only 50% of the tube lights working after reporting both 6 months ago and nothing being done is very much an upgrade.

[paulkerton]

Exactly the same. But somehow i think it will get refused at my school. Dont understand how its appropriate for Women to wear skirts and its fine, but not okay for us to wear work shorts....

Wear a skirt? If I had that attitude back, I'd go to that instantly!