Sadiq Khan backs calls for maximum workplace temperatures as heatwave pressures grow
The Mayor of London has backed calls to introduce a legal maximum workplace temperature, adding fresh momentum to growing demands for stronger protections as repeated heatwaves continue to affect workers across the UK.
Sadiq Khan is supporting proposals for enforceable limits on indoor temperatures after another summer of extreme heat placed increasing pressure on schools, hospitals, transport networks, and workplaces across the capital. While existing health and safety guidance sets minimum workplace temperatures, there is currently no equivalent legal maximum in the UK.
Trade unions, including Unison and the Trades Union Congress, have long argued that employers should be required to act when indoor temperatures become excessive. They have proposed a maximum workplace temperature of 30°C, reduced to 27°C for physically demanding jobs.
The issue has gained further attention following recommendations from the Climate Change Committee, which advised the Government earlier this year to introduce maximum workplace temperature regulations. The committee said such measures would help reduce health risks for employees while encouraging employers to invest in cooling systems as hotter summers become more frequent.
The debate has also reached Parliament, with Green MP Hannah Spencer planning to introduce legislation aimed at paving the way for legal workplace heat limits.
Although the Mayor does not have the authority to introduce national employment laws, City Hall said Khan supports stronger protections as extreme heat becomes an increasingly common challenge for London. The Mayor has also launched initiatives intended to help the capital adapt to higher temperatures linked to climate change.
Recent heatwaves have exposed the wider impact of rising temperatures on public services. Schools have reported difficulties keeping classrooms safe during periods of extreme heat, while NHS facilities have faced disruption as cooling systems, MRI scanners, radiotherapy equipment, and critical IT infrastructure struggled under sustained high temperatures.
Health experts estimate that the three-day peak of the June heatwave was associated with around 440 heat-related deaths per day across the UK, underlining the growing public health challenge posed by prolonged hot weather.
The Government has not yet announced whether it will introduce a legal maximum workplace temperature, but pressure from unions, climate advisers, politicians, and city leaders continues to build.
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