Over this past week, we’ve seen record temperatures around the globe and it's time Canada considers putting in a maximum and minimum working temperature..It hit 40C for the first time this week in the United Kingdom (UK) causing office workers to work from home and children not going to school..Working outdoors in high temperatures isn’t just about being uncomfortably hot, but high temperatures cause physical and mental issues. Heat hazards include dizziness, headaches, fainting, and heat stress..We are at risk of a stroke or loss of consciousness if our blood temperature hits 39C. It gets even worse at 41C when delirium and confusion set in with the possibility of irreparable organ damage or death. .More accidents happen in hot weather, the ability to concentrate drops 5% when the temperature goes above 28C. This means workers make more mistakes. Workers can have problems using equipment and tools from sweaty palms..Some jobs expose workers to more risk. Outdoor jobs such as construction workers and postal workers have a three times higher likelihood of developing skin cancer later in life. A recent UK report about postal workers showed three postal delivery workers died during previous heatwaves..Indoor workers with physical jobs in hot environments like restaurants and factories that lack sufficient or no air conditioning can experience the same risks as outdoor workers with the increase of blood temperatures to dangerous levels..Workers with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure and women during pregnancy or menopause have an even higher chance of heat-related issues..Canada would not be the first country to create a maximum working temperature. .The Biden administration put in “guidance” for workers to not be exposed to temperatures beyond 24C indoors and enforcement officers began unannounced inspections this summer..In Spain, indoor working temperatures above 27C or 25C for physical jobs such as a restaurant kitchen are not allowed..In Trudeau’s favourite country, China, they ban outdoor work during the hottest three hours of the day when it reaches 37C and all work stops at 40C..The United Arab Emirates banned all outdoor work between 12:30 to 3:00 pm, which is the hottest part of the day. .Most Canadian employers are “reasonable” when it comes to working temperatures. My father was a construction project manager and never made his crews work on the hottest days or coldest days..The Federal government could put in both a maximum and minimum working temperature. When it’s minus 40C and skin can get frostbite in two minutes, there’s no reason for anyone to work outdoors except emergency services..We can decide on reasonable working temperatures that would not cost too many lost days of work. It would be a win-win for employers and employees. Employers don’t want their employees getting hurt as it causes downtime and possible fines for unsafe working conditions. Employees don’t want to work in extreme temperatures or get hurt..Canada is the second largest country in the world and we have a wide range of weather, from our cold winter days to our hot summers. It’s time for Trudeau to do something useful to help all Canadians and for himself..When Trudeau goes back to being a drama teacher, a job he’s qualified for, he won’t have to worry about the blackface paint melting, if there’s a maximum working temperature.
