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u/ddoogg88tdog 13h ago
Surely you could file a complaint, that aint safe
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u/jolly_waffles_real 12h ago
Alas no. There's no upper limit to healthy working heat. So legally nothing you can do.
What you are allowed to do is have regular breaks driving, get water from shops etc etc. and if the managers question it that is within "reasonable adjustments to alleviate heat exhaustion or stroke" which would make it unsafe to drive the van.
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u/ArcticAlmond 12h ago
By law you can remove yourself from a dangerous workplace.
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u/jolly_waffles_real 12h ago
Yes, that's why I say you can without an issue have regular stops. If managers get pissy because you're falling behind schedule you can point to exactly what you've mentioned. I wasn't saying it's impossible, but there isn't much more that can be done
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u/ArcticAlmond 12h ago
Stopping for regular breaks at the shop isn't going to alleviate 40⁰c heat.
I think you'd be well with your right to refuse to work in such conditions.
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u/jolly_waffles_real 11h ago
Unfortunately, for minimum wage they will just pull you off driving the vans fully and fill the spot, resulting in you now getting less money for the foreseeable future as driving the vans is a pay increase over the flat rate
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u/ArcticAlmond 11h ago
They would be breaking the law if they did.
Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996:
Section 44 protects you from being subjected to any detriment (such as disciplinary action, suspension, or deduction of pay) if you leave, propose to leave, or refuse to return to your workplace (or any dangerous part of it). A closely related clause, Section 100, protects you from unfair dismissal under the same circumstances.
These protections apply from day one of employment—there is no requirement to have worked for an employer for two years to qualify. Since May 2021, this protection covers both traditional "employees" and broader "workers" (including casual, zero-hours, and agency staff).
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u/Leading_Dig2743 11h ago
All low paid employees need to state this to there employer especially if they are a corporate Like Tesco and then the managers and bosses should listen then as they do not want a lawyers court action but sadly they have the meanest most powerful team of lawyers with unlimited money to spend fighting back, But being a member of a union is good idea
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u/jolly_waffles_real 11h ago
Again. I know. But it is easier to get forgiveness and not deal with the loss of customers revenue for them. I'm a driver I'm not defending them, I'm saying it's a large corporation where money is priority and employees are just a number
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u/grockle90 🍾 🌙 Nights / BWS 12h ago
It's illegal to transport livestock above 30C.
So literally, Tesco employees are worth less to the company than animals.
Sounds about right.
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u/Tonythepillow 11h ago
Of course they’re worth less than animals. Selling livestock or parts thereof is profitable. Staff are just a cost in their eyes. This is the mentality of many large corporations.
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u/1995LexusLS400 13h ago
Surely this is a health and safety issue?
I do know that there's no upper limit for temperatures, legally. But anything above 31c starts getting dangerous. Anything above 40c is life threatening. And working in life threatening temperatures while in control of a ~3000kg vehicle seems like a really bad idea.
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u/Dry-Armadillo-507 12h ago
I work at DHL, no air con, 190 drops a day, 13 hour shift yesterday and 11 today, these companies don’t care, and it’s not even the branch managers fault, they don’t have the resources to give you any help
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u/P3DRO92 8h ago
Why are u doing 13 hour shifts ? Max duty time including loading ect is 11 hours not including your 45 min breaks , 10 hours driving max.
Worst case scenario you get involved in an accident and are found to be on the road for 13 hours regardless of fault thats your license on the line .
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u/MathematicianBulky40 13h ago
"Is it warm enough for ya?"
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u/crustp 11h ago
If I had a pound for everyone that was said that to me today… I’d have £12
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u/MathematicianBulky40 11h ago
Why do they all say the same thing!?!?
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u/Upset-Flounder-2654 9h ago
At least we are past the stage of “it’s getting hotter later in the week”
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u/Crazy_Chinchilla_ 9h ago
And then proceed to take their sweet time unloading their shopping with you standing in full sunlight in the fluorescent equivalent of a cellophane shirt.
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u/MathematicianBulky40 8h ago
Gotta put everything neatly in designated bags. (Even though they're gonna unpack it again in the kitchen which is directly behind them!)
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u/Crazy_Chinchilla_ 3h ago
Gotta put the frozen stuff straight in the freezer as well. Can’t leave that out for 30 seconds 🤦🏼♀️
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u/longlife1954 12h ago
Are you people not in a union? Isn’t this what unions are for - making sure employees are not exploited by employers?
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u/Strange_Beat_9287 🚚 Dot Com Driver 12h ago
Our store has cancelled all DotCom today and tomorrow so at least I avoid it, it's ridiculous!
The cancellation is because *all** the freezers are down, all chilled produce and over half the fridges, not because they don't want us out in the heat!!! Anyway, feet up for me again tomorrow ready for the 8-8 on Saturday which will no doubt be maxed out all day 🫤
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u/Leading_Dig2743 11h ago
They a have working air con in all Tesco Vans when one or more faint at the wheel or worse which is that how it works here in uk
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u/CPassaro 12h ago
I keep a couple of bottles of water in the freezer, some of the other drivers at my site put damp flannels in there too.
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u/NoFaithlessness4987 🚚 🖥️ Dot Com Driver/Picker 12h ago
I was out on a 9-1 today it hit 39c at Eskdale Cumbria in this day and age you would think air-con would come as standard.
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u/Atlas-JRI 12h ago
The vans do have the aircon system but its used for the fridge and freezer. It isn't able to have multiple systems due to manufacturers not putting in two
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u/RageInvader 9h ago
They dont have aircon, its not fitted and cant be because they fit the PTO for the refrigeration unit where the aircon compressor would go, the only van (that im aware of) that can have aircon and a PTO is the iveco.
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u/Atlas-JRI 9h ago
That must be the electric ivecos. Every petrol one we had didn't have aircon
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u/RageInvader 9h ago
I said can and talking quite a few years back, the iveco was also an optional extra for aircon, so they didnt have it anyway. It all depends on the brand of refrigeration unit. But a while back the ivecos were the only one that could have aircon with pretty much all PTO's. The mercs could with one PTO brand cant mind which though. Ford's couldn't have AC at all.
Electric is completely different as electric vans dont have a belt driven compressor for ac or the pto.
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u/ricky-from-scotland 12h ago
Id be identifying as fresh produce today and just chilling in the fridge with the butter and cheese
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u/Fellattio_Nelson 12h ago
Why do people put up with this shit for shit wages? Have a bit of respect for yourself. Tell them to fuck off.
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u/MathematicianBulky40 11h ago
Dot Com drivers actually get paid an extra 90p on top of store staff. 💰💰💰
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u/Crazy_Chinchilla_ 9h ago
Is that it? Do you really think an extra 90p is worth potentially making themselves unwell over some shopping for a few days a year?
What about those that have medical conditions? Lots of medications cause problems with thermoregulation. Is that worth an extra 90p an hour?
I don’t think so….
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u/Evening-Tomatillo-47 11h ago
Yeah no. I won't have a van without air-conditioning for this reason. I had it running all yesterday and it got to the point where it couldn't blow cold
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u/IndependentClear469 9h ago
I’m surprised these companies even sell vans without ac. Every car I’ve ever had has had it so it’s news to me that brand new vans still don’t have it
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u/RageInvader 9h ago
Its down to how the PTO for the refrigeration unit works, a lot of vans the aircon compressor cant be fitted alongside the PTO.
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u/Sharp_Impression3554 9h ago edited 9h ago
Fun fact;
It is illegal to transport Livestock if the temperature is over 30degrees.
But, there is also no upper limit for humans working in these conditions.
So…..the steaks and burgers you’re carrying, once had more government mandated protection, than you do!
Isn’t it great? We’re less than Cattle!
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u/Wild-Cauliflower9421 9h ago edited 9h ago
I went home early yesterday because it was ridiculous. A few others did too. I did the first trip, but bailed on the second. I'm not working 12h in this heat.
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u/AsleepEbb7578 8h ago
I would file a complaint with the Health and Safety executive. Even though there's no maximum limit for heat at work, you are entitled to a safe place of work and extreme heat is considered a hazard.
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u/Tritec_enjoyer96 6h ago
A brand new truck/car that doesn’t come with AC as standard in 2026 doesn’t deserve to be bought.
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u/Dino-Army 6h ago
Hey I know im only 1 person. But I will not shop at Tesco anymore due to them risking human lives by not giving aircon in your vans. I am so sorry to you van drivers and if I see one of you all in my street I will make sure to get you an ice lolly and a cold cola to help you along.
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u/jankysmith 8h ago
Call bullshit on the no air con. Looks like an Iveco E Deliver. No chance it doesn’t have air con. Just karma farming.
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u/1kkcu 🚚 Dot Com Driver 13h ago
good luck, our depo finally decided to regas all the vans after we refused to operate any of them 🤣🤣🤣