Workplace heat exposure prompts calls for legal temperature limits

Recent periods of extreme heat have reignited debate over whether UK workplaces should be subject to a legal maximum temperature, as they are in some other countries. While regulations require employers to keep premises above 16°C, there is no upper threshold, leaving workers in poorly ventilated offices, warehouses or depots exposed to potentially unsafe conditions during heatwaves. Trade unions and health campaigners argue that a statutory limit, coupled with duties to provide cooling or flexible working, would protect employee wellbeing and maintain productivity during increasingly common hot weather.

For facilities management and service businesses, extreme heat affects both office-based staff and mobile teams. Engineers, technicians and drivers working from vans or visiting client sites face particular risks, as vehicles can become dangerously hot and protective workwear exacerbates heat stress. Depots without adequate ventilation or cooling put warehouse and logistics personnel at risk, while productivity and safety both suffer when people are uncomfortably warm. Fleet operators have a duty of care to ensure vehicles are fit for purpose in all weather, which increasingly means considering cab climate control, parking in shade and scheduling breaks during the hottest parts of the day.

Practical steps include reviewing vehicle specifications to ensure air conditioning is standard and well-maintained, not an optional extra that fails during summer. Provide drivers and field teams with guidance on recognising heat stress and the authority to pause work if conditions become unsafe. For depot and office premises, assess whether current ventilation and cooling is adequate for future summers, and budget for upgrades if needed. Flexible working policies that allow earlier starts or remote work during heatwaves can protect people and maintain service delivery when traditional patterns become unsafe or impractical.

Bluepoppy helps businesses specify vehicles that support driver wellbeing and comply with duty-of-care obligations, including climate control and ergonomic features. If you are refreshing your fleet or reviewing specifications, we can ensure your vehicles are equipped for the realities of UK summers, protecting your people and keeping operations running safely. Our Fleet Cost Review also covers total cost of ownership, helping you balance upfront specification choices against long-term reliability and employee satisfaction.

Bluepoppy view: Extreme heat is a fleet and facilities issue – ensure vehicles and premises protect your people and maintain safe, productive operations.

Source: FMUK Online — summarised and written from a Bluepoppy perspective. We don’t reproduce the original article.