While there is a legal minimum temperature you can work in, laws don’t specify a maximum and employees are expected to carry on even if temperatures exceed 40°C – unfair, we know.
But, if you’re currently sat in the office while the sun is beaming outside hating life, you may feel a bit better know that there are a lot worse jobs to have in this heat.
Fish and chip fryers are rated the worst job to have during a heatwave as workers face temperatures up to 180°C while getting paid on average just £16,320 per year for it, according to a CE Safety study.
Here’s a list of 15 of the worst jobs to have in extremely hot weather, ranked by average UK salary.
1. Fish and chip shop fryer – £16,320
Deep fat fryer temperatures can reach a staggering 180°C, with fish and chip shop workers responsible for changing the oil in the machines every five uses.
2. Chicken factory production operative £16,522
Production lines reaching baking hot temperatures of above 20°C, with many chicken factory production operatives reporting extreme working conditions and suffering heat-related illnesses
3. Bin collector £17,475
Bin collectors are exposed to physically intensive lifting as well as unbearable smells when a heatwave happens.
4. Zookeeper £18,453
Zookeepers’ need determination to get through the heat, with daily jobs including building, repairing and cleaning full animal enclosure.
5. Kitchen staff £22,474
Some kitchens have previously reported temperatures as high as 55°C, with workers regularly enduring extremely high temperatures without any legal protection or rights.
6. Steel worker £24,492
Workers are exposed to temperatures from 3,000 to 20,000°C – the same heat emitted from plasma just above the sun’s surface.
7. Welder £25,733
The heat of high temperature welding can be unbearable with naked flames and sparks reaching approximately 450-740°C.
8. Crematorium assistant £26,669
When a filled coffin goes in to be burned, temperatures can reach anywhere between 8,000-1,000°C.
9. Builder £27,000
When a heatwave happens, builders have to press on in highs of 20°C and still have to build an extension from scratch.
10.Recycling plant operative £32,467
Whether plant operatives are based outdoors on inside a factory, they will come across some challenging working conditions at just a slight increase of the temperature gauge.
11. Air conditioning engineer £33,965
Air conditioning engineers work in sweltering conditions crawling through air vents in above 20°C temperatures.
12. Sewage and waste engineer £34,879
Engineers crawl into small pipe systems with very low ventilation at temperatures well over 20°C.
13. Road surfacing operative £38,382
Daily tasks are performed outdoors even when temperatures can reach highs of 30°C.
14. London Underground operative £38,701
TFL operatives deal with poorly ventilated tube tunnels and temperatures as high as 47°C – reported during the 2006 heatwave.
Prosper4jobs lists a job ad for £38,701.
15. Power station engineer £55,976
Power plant working conditions can quickly become unbearable due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Gary Ellis, Health and Safety trainer at CE Safety offers tips on how to keep your staff motivated in the heat:
Relax the dress code – to help your staff feel better in the heat, consider relaxing the dress code.
A number of jobs listed in the research were included due to heavy uniforms which can be unbearable when temperatures rise.
Employers are under no legal obligation to relax dress codes in the heat, but if staff wear heavy-duty workwear daily, consider allowing them to wear alternative clothing temporarily.
Flexible working – offering flexible working arrangements can help your employees cope a little better in the hot weather.
Maybe they can start and finish earlier to avoid high temperature commutes. Alternatively, if staff are able to work from home, consider giving them the option to help boost their motivation through the feeling of extra freedom.
Stay hydrated – ensure all staff have access to cold drinks by encouraging frequent breaks, as well as offering out cool treat or refreshments such as ice lollies and cold drinks.
Dehydration is a key factor in heat illness, so it’s important you’re encouraging employees to keep their levels topped up.
Cut out the coffee – Having a hot drink at work doesn’t mean that your body will start to feel hotter, but the caffeine in tea and coffee can increase heart rate and subsequently blood flow, causing your temperature to rise.
Water on your wrists – run your wrists under the tap. This cools the main veins that run through them and will lower the temperature of your blood flow.
Take regular breaks – some industries are different others, but its important to take regular breaks. Grab a drink or move to another room/area that’s a bit cooler.
More Trending
Got a story for Metro.co.uk?
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
