Climate advisers urge setting maximum temperature for workplaces

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

LONDON: The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has formally urged the government to establish a statutory maximum temperature for workplaces to safeguard employees against the increasing threat of extreme heat.

In its latest progress report, Well-Adapted UK highlighted that the UK remains significantly unprepared for the intensification of heatwaves driven by climate change.

Currently, UK health and safety regulations mandate a minimum indoor temperature but do not set a legal ceiling. This gap leaves staff in hospitals, schools, and offices vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and declining productivity.

‘The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has previously campaigned for a legal limit of 30°C, suggesting a lower threshold of 27°C for those performing strenuous labor.

The CCC criticized the government's adaptation strategy for a ‘lack of urgency.’ It warned that without immediate updates to building codes and labor laws, the nation’s infrastructure and workforce remain exposed to the escalating risks of a warming climate.