A builder claims he was accused of 'indecent exposure' for working without a shirt under his hi-vis jacket on a construction site during the heatwave. Jim Haynes, 62, was laying concrete slabs at the University of Liverpool during the sweltering bank holiday weekend, when temperatures in the city reached 31C.
To combat the heat, the grandfather-of-three worked in a sleeveless high-vis vest and no t-shirt. But Mr Haynes, from Oswestry, Shropshire, said he was warned over his attire following a 'ridiculous' complaint from the university.
'This morning I've come to work and the site manager has come out and said "We've had an email from the university complaining about your indecent exposure",' he said on Tuesday. 'You haven't got a t-shirt on under your high-vis.'
Mr Haynes, who has 40 years' experience in the construction industry, added: 'I've got a high-vis on, I've got my orange trousers on, I've got a hard hat on, and I've got everything I need to work, so what's the problem? Indecent exposure is a bit much.'
While temperatures have dropped from the record highs seen at the start of the week, Mr Haynes said he was worried that he could lose his job if he does not comply. 'We're laying concrete slabs in a sun-trap, with no breeze,' he added. 'You can imagine how hot it's going to be. I think it's ridiculous, especially in this weather. That accusation is a little bit far.'
Rules at the Mulberry Court site - a 1970s block near the city's Metropolitan Cathedral which is being renovated as student accommodation - are understood to ban working without a t-shirt on, the Liverpool Echo reported.
A spokesman for the university said: 'The University of Liverpool takes health and safety seriously and as with all projects relating to the University estate, there are robust policies and measures in place to monitor health and safety practices in relation to this re-development, including those relating to weather conditions.'
While the sight of builders stripped to the waist in hot weather is an annual sight, many major construction companies ban the habit on health and safety grounds. Skin cancer due to exposure to the sun is reported as a major risk. Construction workers account for 44% of occupational skin cancer diagnoses and 42% of related deaths annually despite comprising around only 8% of the UK workforce, according to analysis of Health and Safety Executive data.
