Green MP Hannah Spencer will introduce a parliamentary bill that would establish a legal maximum for workplace temperatures across the United Kingdom, amid a rise in severe heat events.
If enacted, the proposed law would create an independent body tasked with recommending safe upper temperature limits for workplaces and outlining how those guidelines would be implemented.
Campaign groups and trade unions have highlighted the UK’s lack of a maximum temperature standard, noting that while minimum workplace temperature guidance exists, it does not address the dangers of extreme heat linked to the climate crisis.
Unison and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have urged a cap of 30°C for indoor workplaces, with a lower limit of 27°C for strenuous activities.
Having previously worked as a plumber, Spencer—who entered Parliament in a February by‑election—has spoken of the “unfair” conditions many tradespeople endure.
“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,” she said.
“I had one constituent contact me about the appalling conditions he faced laying tarmac on roads in Gorton and Denton in temperatures he called unbearable.”
She said it was “absurd” the country did not have maximum temperature guidance: “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.
“We’ve seen absolute chaos as a result of these recent temperatures, and such a massive human cost, yet we haven’t heard a peep from government about how they plan to protect us all.”
She urged the government to look to countries like Spain, where maximum temperatures are imposed based on the type of work being carried out, and where workers can adjust their hours during heatwaves so they do not have to work during the hottest parts of the day.
Spencer’s bill is expected to receive cross‑party support and will be backed by the left‑wing 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 the independent MP Jeremy Corbyn.
The Health and Safety Executive has warned that a blanket temperature limit would be problematic because heat can be generated by work processes themselves, such as bakery ovens.
While there is no statutory minimum temperature, the HSE’s code of practice recommends a baseline of 16°C (61°F), or 13°C for strenuous work.
A May report from the Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, called for maximum workplace temperature regulations to address growing safety risks and encourage the use of adequate cooling measures.
The report did not set a specific temperature threshold, and ministers have yet to issue a formal response.
The government has indicated that the HSE will launch a public consultation later this year to gather input on updating its guidance, which could incorporate temperature limits.
This year, temperatures have topped 34°C on nine occasions, surpassing the previous record of seven days set in 1976 and 2020. Six separate days have seen temperatures reach 35°C or higher for the first time. Climate scientists attribute the unprecedented heatwave to fossil‑fuel emissions that are intensifying the climate crisis.
Forecasters predict that the extreme heat affecting much of England and Wales will persist through at least Wednesday.
