Unions demand laws on maximum work temperatures

A majority of Britons are in favor of establishing legal limits on maximum workplace temperatures, according to recent polling, as the UK faces increasingly severe heat conditions.

A YouGov poll conducted for Friends of the Earth revealed that nearly 80% of over 2,000 UK adults surveyed are in favor of the government setting a legal maximum workplace temperature.

Currently, there are no legal stipulations for minimum or maximum indoor working temperatures in the UK. While guidelines exist for minimum temperatures, there is no equivalent for maximum temperatures, a growing concern as climate change intensifies heat levels.

Unions

The substantial support for workplace temperature regulations coincides with the fifth heatwave of the summer, with an amber extreme heat warning issued for Thursday, as temperatures are expected to soar to 38C in some areas of England.

The UK is grappling with increasingly severe weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, largely driven by climate change and the burning of fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industry.

This summer’s series of heatwaves have broken records, resulted in thousands of fatalities, closed schools, disrupted transport, and impacted hospital staff.

Earlier this year, the independent Climate Change Committee advised the government to implement workplace temperature regulations to safeguard workers against excessive heat and to encourage businesses to adopt cooling measures as part of broader strategies to address the climate crisis.

Unions are also advocating for new legislation on maximum working temperatures, and the polling indicates strong public support, with less than 10% of respondents opposing the proposal.

Breakdown

Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth, remarked that while the summer’s heat may appear unusual, it is likely to become a common occurrence as global temperatures rise.

She stated that this reality “should be a sobering thought for us all” and urged, “The government can’t afford to bury its head in the sand any longer, the wolf is already at the door.

“Setting a maximum workplace temperature is a much-needed way to protect people from the impacts of our warming climate.”

Downes emphasized that this measure should be part of a comprehensive effort to bolster Britain’s adaptation to rising temperatures, along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.

Action

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, commented: “As the climate crisis makes heatwaves more common, the UK needs to adapt.”

“We need to protect workers from the dangers of extreme heat, and our businesses and services must be more resilient and capable of operating safely in heatwaves.

“That means new laws on maximum working temperatures. This will incentivise employers to make improvements to workplaces to keep them cool and safe.

“And we must continue with climate action to prevent global heating becoming more extreme, with greater costs to our lives.”

Extreme

Sampson Low, head of policy at Unison, stated: “It’s time for clear temperature limits when employers must intervene to protect staff.

“Indoor and covered areas need to be kept comfortable, and sensible bosses should allow employees to work flexibly to make use of the cooler parts of the day.”

Sarah Woolley, general secretary of the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, added: “Working people should not have to choose between earning a living and protecting their health.

“As extreme heat becomes more frequent and dangerous, the government must act and introduce a legally enforceable maximum workplace temperature.”

This Author

Emily Beament is the environment correspondent at Press Association.