Temporary working conditions have been put in place at Heathrow Terminal 5 to enable workers to cope with the heatwave currently sweeping the capital.

Temperatures in London had hit 35° as Building went to press on Wednesday, leaving many construction operatives struggling to work. T5 has increased the number of workers’ breaks to allow them to get out of the sun. However, site sources said that workers felt more should be done to ease conditions on the project, and across other London sites. Alan Brkljac, T&G organiser, said: “We’ve had a rush of calls from workers asking if they have the right to walk off if they are at risk. Workers should ask for periodic water breaks. If that doesn’t work, they may have the right to withdraw.”