Pressure is growing on the government to protect workers from the impact of more regular heatwaves across the UK, with extreme heat leaving people struggling to cope, as well as causing thousands of schools to close and transport and hospital systems to falter.

The June heatwave, which saw temperatures in excess of 40C in some areas, caused the deaths of an estimated 440 people per day in the UK. There is health and safety guidance in Britain but no regulations on maximum temperature limits, despite the rising frequency of heatwaves across recent years.

Trade unions such as Unison and the Trades Union Congress have consistently called for a maximum indoor temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work. A report from the Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, recommended a maximum temperature regulation to address the increasing risks posed to "workers' safety and incentivise the deployment of necessary cooling".

Politicians support calls for increased regulation

A spokesperson for Mr Khan has said that the Mayor backs the idea as extreme heart is "becoming a growing reality" for the capital cuty, one of the worst-affected areas during this summer's heatwaves. He recently launched Heat Ready London, a new initiative to help the city adapt to a warmer climate.

Additional comment has come from the Green Party, through the Mayor of Hackney Zoë Garbett, who said that supporting workers and families was a matter of social justice as well as climate adaptation. 

She said: “Urgent investment from the government in more resilient schools and public buildings isn’t just an issue of the climate crisis, it’s a matter of basic social justice.

“Councils are ready to tackle the crisis and take on a statutory duty to lead the response, but we need the powers and – more importantly – proper funding to take action.”

Government Response

A spokesperson from the government said it had "no plans to introduce a mandatory maximum workplace temperature".

They added: "The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has shared guidance for employers to plan for and support those working in extreme heat to keep workers healthy and safe."