Met Office issues amber weather warning for 9-12 July

09 Jul 2026

Amid rising temperatures, the Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for the North West region, which will remain in place until Sunday, 12 July.

In this warmer period, please remember to:

• Stay hydrated: Remember to drink regularly throughout the day. You can top your refillable water bottles up at any UniCafe outlet at no charge (opening times below) or via local water coolers.
• Protect yourself from the sun: Wear and reapply suncream as necessary, as well as light clothing and a hat if you’re spending time outside.
• Take breaks: If you start to feel overheated or tired, go to a cooler space for a break.
• Check up on colleagues: Keep an eye on those around you and if you notice someone becoming overheated or unwell, encourage them to take a break and move to a cooler space.
• Plan work safely: If you have field trips or planned work this week, make sure the risk assessment takes the forecast into account. Discuss and agree any temporary changes in working arrangements with your line manager e.g. working from home, additional cooling breaks, or flexible working to accommodate disruption to public transport, where feasible.
• Wear the correct PPE: Where required, colleagues should continue to wear PPE with appropriate footwear.

Signs of heat related illnesses

It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses so that we can keep each other safe during warmer weather.

Signs you or others may be experiencing a heat related illness:

• Feeling tired, dizzy, faint, or weak
• Feeling sick
• Feeling an intense thirst
• A headache
• Heavy sweating
• Painful cramps in the arms, legs, and stomach

If you or your colleagues are experiencing any of these symptoms, please immediately contact Campus Support and Security via the SafeZone app or 0161 306 9966, or dial 999 to reach emergency services.

Technical and workspace safety

In these warmer temperatures, and especially as they continue over the weekend, it's important to review safety procedures in our labs, workshops, and workspaces:

• Maintain security standards: Do not prop open unalarmed fire doors and ensure windows are closed each evening.
• Check storage conditions: Some materials may become unstable or degrade in heat or direct sunlight. Ensure all items are stored according to safety guidelines.
• Monitor ambient temperatures: Equipment and chemicals may behave differently in warmer conditions. Please check for items that need to be stored differently during this time.
• Monitor equipment: There is a risk of damage to equipment, especially where there is no air conditioning in place. Some equipment will also emit heat adding to the heat load in technical areas. This equipment should be carefully monitored and shutdown if necessary.
• Ventilation: Ensure your workspaces are properly ventilated to prevent overheating and maintain air quality. If there are any issues, please contact the Estates Helpdesk. Estates are currently doing additional checks to keep ventilation optimised.
  
  Faculty Technical, Estates and Operations Teams are engaging with known areas of campus which struggle to cope with heat under normal summer conditions and are putting mitigating actions in place.

Cool spots on campus

If you need somewhere to rest or meet during the hot weather, we have identified cooler spaces on campus. The below UniCafe locations listed offer seating, access to drinking water, and a more comfortable environment during opening hours.

Further information

If you have any questions or concerns, colleagues should please contact their line manager.

• Amber Heat Alert Risk Assessment