46 Degrees...Did not think that the heat would be so relentless....!!

After 2 weeks of 40 plus degree days, I was looking forward to my Rostered Day Off.
Fatigue management has become important in the Mining Industry so we do not work more that 13 days in a row. The 14th must be a rest day. This is every second Sunday. Our designated RDO.
The heat is relentless.... As the weeks have dragged on, the temperatures have stayed high. Most days were between 40 to 42 degrees including a 43.9. Throw another 2 or more degrees for humidity..... (Our Health and Safety Crew walk around offering frozen fruit tubes and remind us to drink water. They called called it 46 degrees) and by the end of 2 weeks you can feel your feet dragging on the ground.
What do 35 miners do when they travel back to camp on the bus? Nothing....  Our bus is a comfortable coach which is good for the 50 minute trip. Most sleep or attempt to and about a quarter sit on their smartphones and Ipads. The funny thing is that the interior of the bus is dark as the curtains are never ever open. Everyone just tries to hide from the sun.
Another "tradition" leading into the RDO is that Saturday Night is the only opportunity to let your hair down as no-one is breathalysed the following morning and Sunday can be a recovery day. There are a lot of social drinkers up here so groups will gather and party on. Security in the main camps will start winding you up by 8.30, and there is a 10pm curfew on all noise outside.
The "wild" boys on our crew were all tucked into bed by 10pm. Exhausted....
Another week of 40's coming up....
Apparently winter up here is just beautiful...

What do 35 miners in a bus smell like ?

What do 35 miners in a bus smell like. Surprise.... OK...!
Personal hygiene is very very good.

Big fans everywhere...

Everyone wears "longs"... Long sleeve shirts and pants. Definetely no shorts. Everyone sweats in the humidity and the heat. The clothing that you would wear is not worn the next day.So everyone is fresh as a daisy. Otherwise you would be singled out and some-one would let you know pretty quickly. And, it would be bought up during our pre-start discussions at the beginning of the day. I have very rarely smelt body odour. Everyone uses good deodorants and showers constantly. We were advised to stay away from floral deodorants like Lynx as they attract sandflies and wasps. In colder climates people wear the same clothing day in, day out until it looks shabby or too dirty. So they smell...
Over in the West, you perspire a lot, with shirts and pants constantly dripping wet, but you dry off just as quickly.
Miners unwritten code:
Out of respect to fellow workers you must never remove shoes or shirts ever. Not in the smoko rooms and never on the bus. Only when you are back at your Donga. Sleeves are never, ever rolled up. Also, no dirty uniforms, singlets and sweaty gym clothes in the Mess.

Acclimatise: You can work and survive in this heat as long as you are hydrated and rest when needed. Everyday, 2 workers from our company are tested at 10.30 am for hydration. A simple urine test at First Aid. 76 workers across the whole site have been admitted into First Aid for Dehydration in the last 3 months. We are reminded every second day to hydrate.

Downside: The need to go to the toilet twice a night.....

Screenshot of my Iphone at 4.07am. 30 degrees already.
Yesterday was 40+ degrees so I am looking forward to 9 or more days of it. The only thing that is missing is what it feels like because they have not applied humidity to it. Simple, just add about 2 to 4 degrees...
Would I prefer the Winter cold of Melbourne or the heat of the Pilbara? It's the same. You keep out of the rain and cold. You keep out of the heat.
Truthfully, this heat is pretty oppressive and very hard to work in. It is tough out here. But give me the heat..........!
Apparently winter is just perfect. No rain and high 20's. God's Country...