Key facts
- Mayor of London Sadiq Khan supports calls for a maximum workplace temperature in the UK.
- The UK currently has guidance on minimum but not maximum workplace temperatures.
- Unison and the Trades Union Congress propose a 30C maximum, or 27C for strenuous work.
- A Climate Change Committee report recommended setting maximum work temperature regulations.
- The government has stated it has no plans for a mandatory maximum workplace temperature.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has endorsed calls for a maximum workplace temperature in the UK, as repeated heatwaves intensify pressure on the government to implement worker protections. Temperatures in some workplaces have exceeded 40C during recent extreme heat events, which have also led to school closures and strain on public services. The UK currently lacks regulations for maximum indoor temperatures, despite guidance on minimums. Trade unions, including Unison and the Trades Union Congress, are advocating for a limit of 30C, or 27C for physically demanding jobs. A report from the Climate Change Committee also recommended establishing maximum work temperature regulations to mitigate increasing risks to worker safety and encourage the adoption of cooling measures. Green party MP Hannah Spencer is preparing to introduce parliamentary legislation to establish a workplace heat limit. Khan's spokesperson confirmed his support, noting that extreme heat is a growing reality in London and that the Mayor has initiated efforts to help the capital adapt to more frequent and severe heatwaves, though he does not have the authority to enforce such limits himself. Zoë Garbett, the Green party mayor of Hackney, emphasized that addressing extreme heat's impact on workers and families is a matter of social justice and climate adaptation, calling for government investment and powers for local councils. A government spokesperson stated there are no current plans for a mandatory maximum workplace temperature but indicated that the Health and Safety Executive will launch a public consultation this year that will examine temperature thresholds among other workplace health and safety issues.