UK workplace heat limits: protection or burden

The news

A coalition of environmental and anti-poverty organisations has warned ministers that the UK is built for a climate that no longer exists. In a joint letter to the Government the groups, including the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK and WWF, said this year's extreme temperatures linked to thousands of deaths should be a wake-up call. More than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes during the UK's exceptionally hot weather in May and June according to experts' estimates from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London and the Met Office. Most deaths occurred in the June heatwave, the warmest June on record in England when temperatures hit 37.7C at Lingwood, Norfolk. The Trades Union Congress is calling on ministers to introduce a maximum working temperature, a demand backed by the government's advisers on the Climate Change Committee.

What's at stake

The UK has no legal maximum workplace temperature. This leaves workers exposed during heatwaves that are becoming more frequent and severe. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London and the Met Office linked more than 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales to the May and June heatwaves in 2026, with 549 of those in southeast England. Unions across Europe are pressing for new laws to counter heat stress linked to an estimated 230 workplace deaths a year. In the UK an amber heat alert was issued for the south-west of England with temperatures expected to soar. A legal limit would require employers to monitor conditions, provide cooling, adjust hours or close workplaces when thresholds are breached. Without it, businesses retain flexibility but workers in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture and hospitality face rising health risks as summers intensify.

The case for

A legal maximum would protect workers from dangerous heat exposure. Prolonged periods of extreme heat make workplaces unprepared and put occupational health and safety at risk. The European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions has called for rights to heat breaks, outdoor shade, water, cooling and adjusted working hours to be included in forthcoming quality jobs law. The Trades Union Congress demand for a maximum working temperature reflects the daily reality of climate change as an occupational health risk. Evidence from this summer's heatwaves, which saw record temperatures of 37.7C in June and 35.1C in May, shows the human cost with more than 2,700 estimated heat-related deaths. Comparable protections exist in parts of Europe where unions have secured legal thresholds and adaptive measures that reduce heat stress without halting economic activity.

The case against

It would impose costly burdens on businesses with limited flexibility. Introducing a legal maximum temperature would require investment in cooling systems, monitoring equipment and operational changes that many firms cannot easily absorb. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular would face disruption if forced to halt work during heat spikes, affecting output, supply chains and customer service. The absence of a current legal limit allows employers to balance safety with practicality through existing health and safety guidance rather than rigid rules. European union pushes for heat protections, while addressing an estimated 230 workplace deaths a year, risk adding regulatory costs at a time when businesses already manage volatile energy prices and staffing pressures. Without clear evidence on the exact threshold that balances protection and viability, a nationwide mandate could prove disproportionate for sectors where outdoor or high-heat work is inherent.

Why it matters now

If a legal maximum is introduced it would force employers to adapt workplaces and practices ahead of more frequent heatwaves projected in coming years. A no vote would maintain the status quo, leaving adaptation voluntary and reliant on existing guidance. The joint letter from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK and WWF frames this summer's events as a signal that emergency measures can no longer be delayed. With the Climate Change Committee backing the TUC call, pressure is building on ministers to respond before the next heat season. The outcome will shape how the UK balances worker protection against business costs as temperatures continue to rise.

Further reading

edie.net · The Guardian

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