The record-breaking temperatures reached this across the UK caused many businesses to alter their schedule and put safety measures into place.

The provisional highest temperature in Wales ever recorded was measured in Hawarden on Monday, hitting 37.1 degrees celsius.

Several local businesses amended their schedule in reaction to the extreme heat and difficult working conditions.

READ MORE: Highest temperature in Wales recorded at Hawarden today

Popular tourist attraction Chester Zoo announced it would be closed on Monday and Tuesday to protect animals, staff, plants and guests.

 

The extreme heat and level amber or red alerts across the majority of the UK prompted unions to call for a maximum temperature in work.

The GMB suggested it should be set at 25C, saying employers should allow flexible working and travel arrangements, give staff extra breaks and allow them to wear cooler clothes.

READ MORE: North Wales sees some need for medical advice in extreme heat

Lynsey Mann, the GMB’s health and safety officer, said: “Bosses need to do everything possible to keep workplaces cool and, more importantly, safe.

"[...]Ultimately, there needs to be a legal maximum working temperature in the same way we have a legal minimum working temperature, and it is in employer’s interests – workers who are overheating aren’t going to be at their best.”

Both Flintshire and Wrexham bin schedules saw amendments in order to protect the recycling and waste collection teams. 

On Monday, Flintshire Council announced that their teams would be finishing early due to the extreme heat. 

Wrexham Council also encouraged residents to put bins out the night before as waste collection teams were starting earlier in the day. 

READ MORE: Bin collections change in Wrexham

The Trade Union Congress also commented on the need for employers to provide safe working environments. 

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: “We all love it when the sun comes out, but working in sweltering conditions in a baking shop or stifling office can be unbearable and dangerous.

“Indoor workplaces should be kept cool, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day."

Moneypenny, who currently employ around 1,000 employees between their Wrexham and US office, implemented measures to keep their office staff safe. 

The Leader: Moneypenny WrexhamMoneypenny Wrexham

Charlotte Ashdown, People Director at Moneypenny said: "We are doing everything we can to keep our people as comfortable as they can be in this hot weather.

"We are fortunate that our offices are spacious and well spread out and ventilated.

"We also have a mixed mode cooling ventilation system in the building which means the offices remain cool and feel fresh.

"We are advising people to take regular breaks and have extra cold drinks and water available as well as lots of cold salads and fresh fruit and frozen yoghurt etc for lunches and snacks.

"If people do wish to go outside at lunchtime we have free suncream ready for them to use and have sun terraces with shelters and an outdoor walkway around the grounds with lots of shade."

READ MORE: How to stay cool in extreme heat

While these may be the hottest days on records, data from the Met Office shows that spikes in the UK’s daily maximum temperature are becoming both more frequent and more recent.

According to the Met Office nine of the UK’s 12 hottest days on record since 1884 have occurred within the last two decades.

Askar Sheibani, CEO of Comtek Network System and the chair of the Deeside Business Forum, believes that industry and government need to modify workplaces to cope with the increase in extreme hot weather. 

The Leader: Askar SheibaniAskar Sheibani

He said: "We need to modify the environment to suit everyone, the business and the employer. 

"We all need a good solution as if an employee is under stress their productivity will also be poor.

"It's a wake up call for the industry.

"Welsh government need to intervene to help smaller organisations modify their businesses with maybe air conditioning or high level insulation.

READ MORE: "Is the UK’s economy nosediving to a fatal crash?"

"That's the type of industrial strategy that both industry and the Welsh government need to implement which is good for our economy and employee wellbeing, which has been ignored for a long time."

He added: "You won't find this type of condition in Germany and we could learn from them, they have adapted buildings to suit everyone.

"A lot of European companies are not allowed to work without windows, but in the UK we have no such legislation."