Key facts
- Green MP Hannah Spencer is introducing a bill to establish a maximum workplace temperature in the UK.
- The legislation aims to create an independent body to recommend safe workplace temperature limits.
- Unions are calling for a maximum indoor work temperature of 30C (27C for strenuous work).
- The bill has garnered cross-party support from several MPs.
- The Health and Safety Executive has stated that maximum workplace temperatures cannot be imposed solely based on weather.
- The government plans a public consultation on updating workplace guidance, possibly including temperature thresholds.
Green MP Hannah Spencer is set to introduce legislation in the UK parliament that would establish a maximum workplace temperature, a move prompted by the country's increasing frequency of heatwaves. If enacted, the bill would empower an independent body to recommend safe maximum temperatures for various work environments and outline their implementation.
Campaigners and trade unions have voiced criticism over the absence of regulations for maximum workplace temperatures, contrasting with existing guidance for minimum temperatures. They argue that rising summer heat, driven by the climate crisis, poses significant risks to workers. Unions such as Unison and the TUC are advocating for a maximum indoor temperature of 30C, or 27C for physically demanding jobs.
Spencer, a former plumber, highlighted the challenging conditions faced by tradespeople and other workers, citing examples of bus drivers, bakers, and road workers enduring extreme heat. She emphasized the government's responsibility to protect all workers and called the lack of maximum temperature guidance "absurd." She pointed to countries like Spain, which impose maximum temperature limits and allow for adjusted working hours during heatwaves, as a model for the UK.
The bill is anticipated to receive cross-party support, with backing from Labour MPs Rebecca Long-Bailey, Alex Sobel, and Nadia Whittome, as well as Graham Leadbitter from the Scottish National Party, Liz Saville Roberts from Plaid Cymru, and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has previously stated that imposing maximum workplace temperatures is complex, as excessive heat can be generated by workplace activities like ovens in bakeries, rather than solely by external weather conditions. The HSE's code of practice currently recommends a minimum temperature of 16C, or 13C for strenuous work.
In May, the Climate Change Committee, an advisory body to the government, recommended the implementation of maximum work temperature regulations to mitigate the growing risks of high temperatures to workers' safety and encourage the adoption of cooling measures. However, no specific temperature was proposed, and the government has yet to release an official response.
This year has seen temperatures exceed 34C on nine occasions, surpassing the previous record. Six days have recorded temperatures of 35C or higher for the first time. Forecasters indicate that the current heatwave conditions are expected to persist until at least Wednesday, with the extreme heat attributed to the burning of fossil fuels driving the climate crisis.