A petition demanding the government introduce a legally enforceable maximum working temperature has been launched, gathering hundreds of signatures as the UK braces for a record-breaking heatwave. On Wednesday morning, a rare red heat warning came into force for only the second time in history, with temperatures forecast to hit 40C in parts of England and Wales.
Petition Details and Progress
The petition, created by Mr Andrew Haddock on the official UK Parliament website, launched last week and has so far garnered 555 signatures. It will close on December 19, 2026. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government will respond; if it reaches 100,000, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition states: "Introduce a legally binding maximum working temperature of 25C for all workplaces, covering both indoor and outdoor jobs. Currently, there is an advisory minimum temperature in statutory guidance but no upper limit. We want the Government to change this by introducing a strict 25C maximum cap." It further argues that when temperatures hit 25C, employers must legally provide cooling measures or pause work, with lower thresholds for more physical roles.
Current Workplace Temperature Regulations
Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers are legally required to maintain a "reasonable" indoor temperature. However, there is no specific legal maximum temperature. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Acas recommend practical measures such as providing fresh air, drinking water, air conditioning, relaxed dress codes, and flexible shifts when heat causes discomfort.
The petition highlights that "reasonable comfort" is not clearly defined, and enforceable limits are needed to protect workers. Heat is recognised as a workplace hazard, meaning employers must manage it like any other safety issue.
Extreme Heat Forecast
The Met Office issued a red weather warning for severe heat covering a region from London to Swansea and from Somerset to Birmingham, effective from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday. Temperatures could approach the UK record of 40.3C set in Lincolnshire in July 2022, and are predicted to exceed the June record of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "It is important to remember that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story. The other major factor is the high humidity, which for many will make the intense heat even harder to endure."
Impact of the Heatwave
The UK is preparing for unprecedented temperatures, with school closures and warnings to avoid travel. A "heat-dome" over western Europe is causing extreme weather across the continent. The rare red warning is only the second of its kind, highlighting the severity of the situation.
