Amber heat warning
Guidance for staff about the Met Office Scotland Amber warning of extreme heat.
The Met Office Scotland have announced an Amber warning of extreme heat affecting Edinburgh and the Lothians, Central, Tayside and Fife on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July 2022.
Met Office Scotland Amber warning
The University is open as normal and key roles in ACE and Estates are being managed to ensure their safety, and so that essential services across the University will operate as normal.
Managers have been asked to provide flexibility to allow staff to work from home on Monday and Tuesday wherever possible, so please speak to your line manager to request this. If you are working on campus please ensure that you take regular breaks and follow the health and safety guidance below.
Network Rail have announced speed restrictions from 13:00 to 20:00 on Monday 18 July on most train routes which may have a considerable impact on some staff travelling to and from the University. We can expect this to continue on Tuesday 19 July. We would encourage staff to limit travel or to make use of other forms of travel wherever possible.
Health and safety guidance
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids before you start work and throughout the day. Avoid dehydrating liquids such as coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks.
- Wear loose fitting clothing.
- Stay in the shade and limit travel.
- Rinse a cloth in cold water then wipe your face or put it around your neck when feeling too hot.
- Avoid getting sunburn. Use sunscreen and wear a hat if working outside.
- Be alert to signs of colleagues struggling with heat and alert your line manager.
- Avoid direct sun, when working in buildings, open the windows and draw the curtains if possible, if in offices move your desks away from direct sunlight.
- Eat smaller meals, eat fruit high in fibre and natural juice. Avoid high protein foods.
- When working in food preparation areas, turn off all equipment which is not required to reduce the temperature of your working environment.
Please keep up to date with the latest information on the social media channels below.