The British Safety Council has reported that Parliament recently heard that the HSE is to review how extreme heat is managed under current workplace regulations.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, speaking in Westminster last Thursday, revealed that the HSE is to launch a public consultation later this year. It is likely to seek views on updating official guidance, which may include setting clear thresholds for a maximum recommended working temperature.
It comes as unions including Unison and the TUC reiterated calls for a specific legal maximum temperature for indoor work of 30°C, or 27°C for strenuous work.
A Parliamentary petition for a legally binding maximum working temperature of 25°C for all workplaces, has also this week garnered over 6,000 signatures.
The HSE currently provides guidance for employers to manage the risk to workers, including from extreme heat, said Timms.
The regulator has also issued advice for employers on how to meet their legal duties in the current hot weather, he added, before revealing that the HSE is progressing a wider review of the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, including those relating to workplace temperature, to “ensure it is fit for purpose for a modern workplace.”
The urgency of the review is underscored by the weather. The UK has officially seen eight days of temperatures of 34°C or higher, the Met Office confirmed last week – the highest number ever recorded.
Heat will gradually ease across southern and eastern parts of the UK during the weekend and into next week, although the Met Office says “very warm weather is set to continue.”
The British Safety Council has said it is time to update the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations to include explicit protections against excessive heat and cold. “This should be supported by statutory guidance that establishes practical trigger temperatures and proportionate control measures rather than relying solely on fixed maximum or minimum limits,” says the policy statement on its website.
This is an increasingly important development for employers as rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are creating new workplace health and safety challenges across a wide range of sectors. Whilst UK legislation currently requires employers to maintain a "reasonable" workplace temperature, there is no defined maximum limit, leaving organisations to demonstrate that they have adequately assessed and controlled the risks associated with excessive heat. The HSE's review of workplace temperature guidance signals a growing regulatory focus on heat-related risks, making now the right time for employers to review their risk assessments, wellbeing arrangements, ventilation, hydration provisions, and working practices. Taking proactive action not only helps ensure legal compliance but also protects employee health, reduces the risk of heat-related illness, and supports productivity during periods of extreme weather.
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