The UK has broken records for the hottest weather ever seen in May, with Kew Gardens in south-west London reaching a provisional all-time spring high of 34.8C on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Met Office listed 12 locations where the record was broken, ranging from Suffolk to Berkshire to Warwickshire, while 97 of its monitoring sites hit or exceeded 30C.
The heat has continued into the working week, with temperatures still expected to reach 35C in some parts of the country on Tuesday, leaving workers, from builders to office staff, sweltering outside or inside with little or no access to air conditioning.
So what are your rights if it’s too hot to work? ITV News explains.
What if it’s too hot to work?
There is no legal maximum working temperature in the UK, meaning employees do not have an automatic right to stop working because it is too hot.
However, workers can still raise concerns with their employer.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets a minimum workplace temperature of 16C, or 13C for physically demanding work, but says there is “no meaningful upper limit” because some industries regularly operate in high temperatures, such as bakeries and foundries.
Employers still have a legal duty of care to keep staff safe and must follow health and safety laws, including:
The HSE says employers are responsible for maintaining “thermal comfort”, although there is no fixed legal temperature limit.
Some employers choose to stop work during extreme heat.
They must also carry out risk assessments before assigning work.
Trade Unions are calling for a lawful maximum working temperature. Credit: iStock
How can employers protect workers?
There are practical steps employers can take to protect workers in very high or very low temperatures.
The HSE has issued guidance for employers on managing excessive heat, which workers may also find useful when discussing ways to improve conditions in the workplace.
The HSE recommends employers:
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Provide fans or air conditioning
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Improve ventilation and allowing windows to open
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Use blinds or reflective film to block direct sunlight
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Move workstations away from heat sources
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Supply free cold drinking water
Employers can also adapt working patterns by:
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Introducing flexible hours or job rotation
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Moving staff to cooler areas where possible
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Allowing extra breaks
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Relaxing dress codes where safe to do so
I work outside – what are my rights?
Working outdoors in hot weather can increase the risk of heat stress, sunburn and long-term skin damage, including skin cancer.
The HSE advises employers to:
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Reschedule work to cooler parts of the day
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Provide shaded rest areas
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Offer free drinking water
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Allow more frequent breaks
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Help workers recognise symptoms of heat stress
These are recommendations rather than legal requirements.
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What about travelling to work in extreme heat?
Employers’ responsibilities can extend beyond the workplace if extreme temperatures create health and safety risks during commuting.
Under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, workers can remove themselves from situations they reasonably believe pose a “serious and imminent danger”.
However, this protection applies to immediate safety risks rather than general discomfort.
Are unions calling for stronger protections?
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and UNISON are both calling for a legal maximum indoor working temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work.
They say temperatures above 24C should be reduced where possible, or action taken if workers feel uncomfortable.
The World Health Organization also recommends 24C as the maximum comfortable working temperature.
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