Manual labourers who work outside and often undertake physically demanding work are at particular risk from rising temperatures. And after this week's amber heat health alert, the HSE are introducing mandatory heat stress assessments and enhanced protections, including increased breaks and access to shaded areas.
Under current regulations, employers must ensure that workplace temperatures are reasonable but no specific maximum temperature is legally defined.
The HSE advises that employers assess risks from extreme heat and implement practical measures to protect workers. This includes providing sufficient ventilation such as fans or air conditioning, access to drinking water and sufficient breaks in order to cool down.
Workers can't stop working if an office is uncomfortably warm but the law does state they can walk out if they believe they are in 'serious and imminent danger', such as suffering from heatstroke or heat exhaustion.
A minimum safe temperature of 13C is recommended for strenuous jobs, while non-strenuous roles require at least 16C. This can mean performing tasks at cooler times of the day or allowing lighter and cooler clothing.
The proposed changes aim to modernise outdated guidance from 1992 and the government has committed to supporting these reforms, with detailed proposals expected soon for consultation.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has previously called for Britons to have the right to stop working during heatwaves. During the 2022 heatwave, which saw temperatures of 40C recorded in the UK for the first time, she urged the previous Conservative government to urgently introduce guidance on safe working temperatures.
Health secretary Wes Streeting has also previously expressed support for such legislation, signing an early day motion in 2016 in support of a similar move, alongside foreign secretary David Lammy, Scotland secretary Ian Murray and culture secretary Lisa Nandy.