CAREER choice can be a deal-breaker at this time of the year in Dubbo, with some people slugging it out in 40-plus degrees while others are as cool as a cucumber.
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So far this week the severe heatwave has seen the mercury soar to 39.8 degrees in Dubbo on Monday, 42.2 on Tuesday and 43.7 on Wednesday.
Temperatures are predicted to hover in the early 40s through until Saturday.
Dubbo builder Nigel Bourke said he may just have the hottest job in town.
He has run his own building company, Nigel Bourke Constructions, for the past 15 years and said temperatures above 40 degrees were part of working in this region during summer.
I’d drink about five litres of water a day and you still loose a bit of weight. You’re pretty fatigued at the end of the day.
- Nigel Bourke
“It’s summer in Dubbo and it goes with the territory,” he said.
“I’d definitely tell school leavers to think long and hard about this career.”
There are, however, a few tricks to coping with such extreme temperatures while working outdoors, Mr Bourke said.
“Drink a lot of water and start early, we’re on the job site by 6.30am” he said.
“I’d drink about five litres of water a day and you still loose a bit of weight.
“You’re pretty fatigued at the end of the day.”
Another tip – watch where you put your tools and metal items down during the day because if you leave them in the sun “they’ll burn your hands when you pick them up”.
Possibly having the coolest job in town is Mark Knaggs who owns DMC Meat and Seafood.
“It’s really good, you sweat your arse off all night and then come in here and it’s great,” he said.
“Our controlled temperature is 10 degrees, but the shop is 18.
“Customers come in and they’re just ‘ahhhh’, instead of being in a mad rush and getting out, they’re taking their time shopping.”
Mr Knaggs said he did feel a little sorry for those stuck working outside during this heat.
“You know it’s hot when all the tradies come in here in the morning to get a block of ice for the air conditioning or to keep their bait cold,” he said.
“Anyone working outside at the moment, it’s just plain cruel.”
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