A petition urging the UK government to introduce a legally enforceable maximum working temperature has been launched as the country braces for a record-breaking heatwave. Temperatures could reach 40C in parts of England and Wales on Wednesday and Thursday, prompting a rare red weather warning from the Met Office.
Petition Details and Signatures
The petition, established by Mr Andrew Haddock on the official UK Parliament website, was launched last week and has garnered 555 signatures as of writing. It remains open until December 19, 2026. If it reaches 10,000 signatures, the government must respond; if it secures 100,000, it will be considered for parliamentary debate.
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 adds that when temperatures hit 25C, employers must legally provide cooling measures or pause work, with lower thresholds for more physical roles.
Current Legal Framework
Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers must maintain indoor temperatures at a “reasonable” level, but there is no legal maximum temperature. Heat is recognised as a workplace hazard, meaning employers must manage it like any other safety concern. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Acas recommend practical steps such as providing fresh air, drinking water, air conditioning, relaxing dress codes, and flexible shifts.
Heatwave Forecast and Warnings
The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat, covering an area from London to Swansea and from Somerset to Birmingham, effective from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday. This is only the second time such a warning has been issued. Temperatures could rival the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C, recorded in Lincolnshire in July 2022, and surpass 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.” BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes predicted the June temperature record would be “absolutely smashed,” with highs reaching 37C to 38C.
Impact and Precautions
The heatwave has triggered school closures and travel warnings. A “heat-dome” over western Europe is driving extreme conditions across the continent. The petition highlights that “reasonable comfort” under the Health and Safety at Work Act is not clear enough, and enforceable limits are needed to protect workers from heat-related risks.
