TUC calls for safer, cooler work

The TUC issued urgent guidance to employers as the UK experienced its first major heatwave of the summer, with temperatures soaring past 30°C in parts of the country in June.

Calling for “safer, cooler work,” the TUC is pressing for immediate action to protect workers from heat-related illness. Outdoor workers are especially vulnerable, with long-term sun exposure making them up to three times more likely to develop skin cancer.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “With heatwaves becoming more common, we need to adapt. We need new laws on maximum working temperatures, improvements to workplaces to keep them cool, and climate action to reduce global heating.”

The TUC is calling for new legal protections that would require employers to act when indoor temperatures exceed 24°C, and to stop work altogether if they rise above 30°C, or 27°C for physically demanding roles. Similar rules already exist in Spain and Germany.

In the meantime, it says employers should take simple steps to help staff cope: relaxing dress codes, offering cold drinks and regular breaks, allowing earlier or later working hours, and enabling homeworking where possible. Workplaces should be cooled with fans, ventilation or shaded areas, while outdoor staff must be protected with sunscreen, shade and adjusted working hours.