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STEPS to support bus drivers battling sweltering conditions were announced by Unite today.
The union has given its bus driver members an official letter to present to management when conditions in drivers’ cabs become too hot, stating they are stopping work for safety reasons.
The letter cites section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, which allows workers to remove themselves from a position of “serious and imminent danger.”
After enduring three heatwaves this summer, bus drivers are increasingly struggling with overheating cabs.
Many are not air conditioned or have faulty cooling systems, leading to drivers reporting temperatures exceeding 40°C.
Unite national officer for passenger transport Wayne King said: “Drivers stopping work when they feel unsafe will inevitably cause serious disruption for passengers.
“But this is a direct result of the failure of employers to take action.
“We believe the steps we have taken on this serious health and safety problem creates a safer environment for all concerned; drivers, passengers and members of the public.”
Unions and climate activists pressure government to consider legislation for maximum working temperature
The recent heatwaves revealed how ill-prepared Britain remains for a hotter future – and how unequal the ability to cope with it has become, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
Extreme heat is now one of the defining public health challenges of a warming world, explains Prof IAN WILLIAMS
