Key facts
- UK workers are facing dangerous conditions due to extreme heatwaves.
- A campaign for a maximum working temperature is gaining momentum.
- Spain and Belgium have established maximum working temperature regulations.
- Unions are advocating for action when temperatures exceed 24C and work stoppages at 30C.
- Workers in construction, baking, and emergency services are particularly at risk.
Workers in the UK are facing increasingly dangerous conditions during heatwaves, prompting calls for a maximum working temperature to be legally enforced. From chefs in sweltering kitchens to construction workers on exposed sites, and paramedics in heavy uniforms, many are struggling to cope with extreme heat that can lead to serious health risks, including heat stroke and even death.
Head chef Joshua Swinney at London's Plimsoll pub described the challenges of maintaining operations, particularly with their signature cheeseburger, while trying to adapt the menu and use fans that often just circulate hot air. He noted extreme measures some staff have taken, like ice baths in buckets.
Campaigners are pushing for regulations similar to those in Spain and Belgium, which set maximum working temperatures for different types of labor. Spain, for instance, limits sedentary work to 27C and light physical work to 25C. Belgium has a more granular system, with lower limits for heavier physical tasks.
Construction worker Kenny Dinsdale, 65, highlighted the life-threatening risks of working in extreme heat and suggested adopting 'Mediterranean-style hours' to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Bakers, working near large ovens in often unventilated spaces, are also facing intensified heat. The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union has been campaigning for a maximum temperature for a decade, with some employers offering concessions like relaxed uniforms and extra breaks, while others expect workers to continue as normal.
Essential workers like paramedics face the dual challenge of intense heat and demanding physical tasks while wearing heavy uniforms. One paramedic described the experience as 'awful' and 'vile,' noting the uniform remains the same regardless of the weather. Bus drivers have also voiced frustration, with some striking over non-functional air conditioning in their cabs, where temperatures can exceed 40C.
The Trades Union Congress is advocating for rules that would require employers to take action to reduce temperatures when they exceed 24C, and for work to cease when temperatures reach 30C, or 27C for strenuous jobs. Unions are actively using collective power to push for these changes, citing the success of similar measures in hotter climates like Spain.