Employers urged to protect workers from soaring heat
Edmonton businesses and residents are doing whatever they can to cope with the current heat wave blazing through the city.
The mercury at the Blatchford weather station hit 34.3 C at 4 p.m. Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures expected to hover around 34 C into the evening.
The record-breaking heat forced one restaurant to temporarily take some items off its menu.
Northern Chicken on 124 Street in Westmount opted to keep its convection oven turned off after temperatures in the kitchen spiked to 41 C on Wednesday.
“We figured we’d shut down the biggest heat-producing thing this morning and take the items that come out of the oven off the menu completely for the day,” co-owner Matt Phillips said.
This included the restaurant’s confit chicken leg dish, which Phillips said was unfortunate because it is the only gluten-free option on the menu. But the sweltering heat was starting to become “worrisome” for the kitchen crew, which Phillips said was his main priority.
“I’d rather have my staff be a little bit more comfortable than be put in danger for something like that,” he added. “We’ve been buying Gatorade and soaking cloths with ice water to put on their necks.”
During the modified lunch rush, the heat conditions were more manageable with the temperature reaching 36 C, Phillips said.
Since opening in November 2016, Phillips said this latest heat wave is the hottest he can remember and both he and his staff are looking forward to a cool down.
“Hopefully the 21 C on Saturday is correct.”
The Alberta government is also urging workers and their employers to take extra precautions in the scorching conditions.
“Albertans working outside or indoors where there is no air conditioning should take precautions against the heat. Employers also have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment and should be familiar with prevention strategies. Together, we can make sure everyone makes it home safe,” Labour Minister Christina Gray said in a Thursday news release.
Recommended actions include extra breaks, cooling stations and access to water.
This sentiment rings true for Terry Parker, executive director of Building Trades of Alberta that looks after 75,000 trade workers in the province.
“We always hear concerns when it comes to extreme temperatures,” he said. “We’re telling our members out there to take all the necessary precautions.”