Government urged to introduce upper temperature limit for workplaces

A maximum temperature limit for workplaces should be introduced to address the growing impact of climate change in the UK, a government advisory committee has recommended.

The Well-Adapted UK report published by the Climate Change Committee recommended the government commit to a national maximum temperature for workplaces to protect workers’ safety and incentivise the deployment of cooling.

Currently there is no legal upper limit to how hot a working environment can be. But employers do have an obligation to make sure working environments are safe and have to consider taking action if heat is putting staff at risk.

The committee has suggested formalising these obligations with a proposed target indoor temperature range of 16°C–25°C.

The range has been informed by guidelines on the upper limits for comfort and cognitive performance.

Other countries have regulations to protect workers during extreme weather. In Sweden and Norway workplace safety representatives have legal powers to suspend work in dangerous conditions.

In the UK the Trade Union Congress has long argued for a maximum temperature of 30°C, or 27°C for physically strenuous working environments.

Other suggestions for employers include shifting working hours, providing shade, water and heat-appropriate uniforms.

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