📣 Big News for Workers: Heatwave Brings Push for New Workplace Temperature Laws 🌡️
As the heatwave grips the UK, over 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for a maximum legal working temperature. Currently, UK law sets a minimum workplace temperature but not a maximum, unlike Spain where indoor workspaces are capped at 27°C for desk jobs. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are now considering a change to protect workers from overheating.
Kerry Cooper, who started the petition, has health conditions that make hot environments unbearable. She says her workplace response to rising temperatures was “a couple of tower fans pushing warm air around the room.” Many have echoed her concerns, sharing stories of extreme heat at their own workplaces. 🌞
James works in a scorching factory environment with no air con, writing: “I’m handling 25kg items, walking 20k steps a day, with a machine set at 195°C and no clean drinking water.” 💧 Meanwhile, Ocean says their warehouse feels like a “literal greenhouse,” with fans mostly broken, leaving them dizzy and sick. Karen reports care home conditions are hard for both staff and residents due to the heat. Chris and Samantha both detail uncomfortable and unsafe conditions in the field and on night shifts. 😰
This conversation comes as some of Europe’s largest trade unions demand the right to stop work at 30°C, and UK doctors call for measures to protect NHS staff. Hospitals and industries across Britain are pushing for similar protections.
Do you think the UK needs this law change? 🤔 Let us know your thoughts below! 👇
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