A bill to set maximum workplace temperatures is to be introduced to Parliament.
The recommendation has been backed by Unison and the Trade Union Congress who called for a maximum indoor working temperature of 30C or 27C for strenuous work.
MP calls for working rules change
The Green MP Hannah Spencer, who was elected earlier this year, will introduce the bill which is expected to receive cross-party support.
She told The Guardian: “From bus and train drivers sweltering in cabins that are hotter than the soaring temperatures outside and bakers working in temperatures of over 40 degrees, to builders whose workplaces offer no respite from the heat, the government has a duty to protect all of us.
“This is something workers and trade unions have been raising the alarm about for many years – it shouldn’t have taken this long to act, but the unsafe temperatures we’re seeing now should be a huge wake-up call.”
Consultation launched
Last week, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said the Health and Safety Executive will launch a public consultation later this year on how extreme heat is managed under current workplace regulations.
In May, the Climate Change Committee published a report setting out a package of solutions to address the impacts of climate change on life in the UK, one of which was introducing a maximum temperature for workplaces.
The British Safety Council supports this move, advocating for a change to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations to include explicit protections against excessive heat and cold.
A petition supporting a legally enforceable maximum working temperature has reached over 7,000 signatures.
