Legal rights explained when it gets too hot at work | UK | News

Millions of workers could find themselves sweltering at their desks this week as temperatures rise across the UK. But when the heat becomes unbearable, many people ask the same question: Do you have the legal right to stop working?

The answer may be a surprise. Despite repeated heatwaves and growing concerns about workplace safety, there is currently no legal maximum working temperature in the UK. according to UK health and safety rulesEmployers must ensure workplace temperatures are “reasonable” during working hours. However, the law does not define a specific upper limit after which staff can automatically put down tools and go home.

Health and Safety Manager He says there is “no meaningful upper limit” because some industries, such as furnaces and foundries, routinely operate in hotter conditions than a typical office environment.

This doesn’t mean employers can ignore the issue. Under health and safety legislation, businesses still have a legal duty to protect workers and provide a safe environment, including maintaining what the HSE describes as “thermal comfort”.

This may include measures such as improving ventilation, providing access to potable water, adjusting working hours, relaxing dress codes or carrying out risk assessments during periods of extreme heat.

Workers who feel that conditions have become unsafe should first report their concerns to their employers. Government-backed guidance states employers should assess workplace risks and take reasonable steps to reduce them where necessary.

There are also situations where employees may have additional legal protection. Under Employment Rights Act 1996Employees may be protected if they leave or refuse to return to a workplace where they reasonably believe there is a “serious and imminent danger” that cannot be avoided.

The warning comes as parts of the UK face extreme heat, with forecasters predicting temperatures to reach as high as 30C. Health officials urged people to stay hydrated, avoid unnecessary physical exertion during the hottest hours of the day, and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

While there’s no official temperature at which work should stop, experts say employers can’t ignore rising temperatures. Businesses are expected to take reasonable precautions to protect staff if heat affects employees’ health, safety or ability to do their jobs.