Green MP Hannah Spencer proposes maximum workplace temperatures following UK heatwaves
Written by Mary O'Shaughnessy - 20 July 2026
If you’ve spent the last few weeks slathering on suncream and digging out an old fan from the attic, you’re not alone: the UK officially experienced its hottest June on record in 2026, and the scorching July weather seems to be following the same trend.
While we might be enjoying some respite from the traditional British grey skies, these heatwaves are far more dangerous than they might first appear. With temperatures reaching the mid-30°Cs at the end of June, the Met Office issued ‘Red Extreme Heat Warnings,’ reserved for situations in which there is a risk to life, which sadly is the case as more than 2,750 people are estimated to have died as a result of the heat in 2026 so far.
During these heatwaves, those of us with air-conditioned offices, libraries, and lecture halls might well be feeling relieved when we step through the doors and sit down at our computers. Some jobs, however, do not have the luxury of aircon. Take, for instance, bus drivers, builders, and people working in kitchens. Temperatures in these environments can reach dizzying heights, leading to risks of heat exhaustion and dehydration.
In response to the recent heatwaves, Hannah Spencer, the recently elected Green MP for Gorton and Denton, has proposed that maximum workplace temperatures should be introduced in the UK.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 is a piece of legislation which sets out requirements for employers to ensure a suitable working environment for their employees. This is supplemented by the Approved Code of Practice, published in 2013, which provides further guidance including a recommended minimum indoor workplace temperature set at 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work. However, there is no maximum temperature provided for workplaces, with employers told only to maintain a “reasonable” temperature and carry out risk assessments where heat could be hazardous, i.e. threatening worker health and safety.
Unison and the Trade Union Congress have previously called for maximums to be introduced, proposing limits of 30°C, or 27°C for strenuous work. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK’s workplace safety regulator, has argued that meaningful maximums cannot be imposed because in some indoor workplaces (for instance, bakeries) work activity can cause high temperatures.
And so, rather than proposing a precise limit, Spencer’s bill calls for the creation of an independent body to recommend safe upper temperature limits across different sectors, and to advise ministers on how those limits should be enforced.
Countries that traditionally experience periods of extreme heat often have measures in place that the UK could model their regulations on. For instance, in Australia, during heatwaves employers must put in place heat risk control measures, including reducing the number of tasks requiring physical effort, adjusting working times to the cooler hours of the day, and ensuring access to fresh water, fans, and shaded areas for outdoor workers. In South Africa, employers must take steps to ensure the workplace temperature does not exceed 30°C and must intervene against heat stress.
Without government backing, Spencer’s bill is unlikely to pass into law, but it has triggered discussion over what might count as a “reasonable” workplace temperature in the context of a changing climate that has increased the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the UK.