Khan backs statutory workplace heat limits as government defers to HSE consultation
With workplace temperatures exceeding 40C and NHS systems failing, pressure mounts on Westminster to replace voluntary guidance with enforceable maximum temperature regulations.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has formally endorsed calls for the introduction of a statutory maximum workplace temperature in the United Kingdom, citing the escalating frequency of extreme heatwaves linked to the climate crisis. The intervention by one of the country’s most senior elected officials adds significant political weight to demands from trade unions and campaigners for regulatory limits on indoor heat.
The push for new policy comes as recent heatwaves have driven workplace temperatures above 40C, causing widespread disruption across public services. The June heatwave alone resulted in an estimated 440 deaths per day at its peak, while thousands of schools closed and hospital and transport systems experienced critical breakdowns. Reports indicate that NHS cooling unit failures led to the stalling of critical IT systems and the failure of radiotherapy machines and MRI scanners.
Trade unions Unison and the Trades Union Congress are currently demanding a maximum indoor temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work. This aligns with a May recommendation from the Climate Change Committee, which advised the government to establish maximum work temperature regulations to protect worker safety and incentivise the deployment of necessary cooling infrastructure.
Green Party MP Hannah Spencer announced plans to introduce a bill in parliament to establish a statutory workplace heat limit, further intensifying pressure on the government. Hackney Green Party Mayor Zoë Garbett described the lack of resilient infrastructure as a social justice issue, highlighting the difficult choices headteachers face regarding school closures and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable families.
While the UK currently enforces health and safety guidance on minimum temperatures, it lacks corresponding regulations for maximums. A government spokesperson stated there are no plans to introduce mandatory maximum workplace temperatures but confirmed that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will launch a public consultation on workplace health and safety this year, which will consider temperature thresholds alongside other issues.