Green MP Hannah Spencer aims to pass law on maximum workplace temperatures

Hannah Spencer, a former plumber, is pushing for legal limits on workplace temperatures, especially for tradespeople. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Hannah Spencer, a former plumber, is pushing for legal limits on workplace temperatures, especially for tradespeople. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images Green MP Hannah Spencer aims to pass law on maximum workplace temperatures Byelection winner says heatwaves are causing ‘absolute chaos’ and workers need protection from unsafe conditions Hannah Spencer is to introduce a bill in parliament that would pave the way for a maximum workplace temperature in the UK, as the country grapples with increasingly frequent heatwaves. If passed, the legislation will create an independent body to recommend maximum safe workplace temperatures and set out how those recommendations should be implemented. Campaigners and unions have criticised the fact the UK has health and safety guidance on minimum workplace temperatures but nothing for maximum temperatures, despite rising summer heat caused by the climate crisis. Unison and the TUC have called for a maximum indoor work temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work. Spencer, who worked as a plumber before being elected as an MP in a byelection in February, has spoken about the “unfair” temperatures tradespeople must work in. “From bus and train drivers sweltering in cabins that are hotter than the soaring temperatures outside and bakers working in temperatures of over 40 degrees, to builders whose workplaces offer no respite from the heat, the government has a duty to protect all of us,” she said. “I had one constituent contact me about the appalling conditions he faced laying tarmac on roads in Gorton and Denton in temperatures he called unbearable.” She said it was “absurd” the country did not have maximum temperature guidance: “This is something workers and trade unions have been raising the alarm about for many years – it shouldn’t have taken this long to act, but the unsafe temperatures we’re seeing now should be a huge wake-up call. “We’ve seen absolute chaos as a result of these recent temperatures, and such a massive human cost, yet we haven’t heard a peep from government about how they plan to protect us all.” She urged the government to look to countries like Spain, where maximum temperatures are imposed based on the type of work being carried out, and where workers can adjust their hours during heatwaves so they do not have to work during the hottest parts of the day. Spencer’s bill is expected to receive cross-party support and will be backed by the leftwing Labour MPs Rebecca Long-Bailey, Alex Sobel and Nadia Whittome as well as Graham Leadbitter from the Scottish National party, Liz Saville Roberts from Plaid Cymru and the independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. The Health and Safety Executive has said maximum workplace temperatures cannot be imposed because excessive heat can be caused by workplace activity rather than the w