As temperatures soared above 35C in London and other parts of the UK, workers in outdoor and non-air-conditioned environments reported severe challenges coping with the heat. Kitchen staff at restaurants resorted to unconventional cooling methods, including wrapping frozen towels around their necks and taking ice baths, while attempting to modify menus to reduce oven use.
Construction workers, bakers, bus drivers, paramedics, and other essential workers have become increasingly vocal about the dangers posed by extreme heat in their workplace environments. A construction worker in his mid-60s emphasized the particular vulnerability of older workers in the industry, while bakers working with large hot ovens in poorly ventilated spaces reported dangerous conditions that only worsen as outdoor temperatures rise. Some employers have implemented measures such as relaxing uniform requirements, providing cold water, and offering additional breaks, though union representatives noted that non-unionized workplaces often continued normal operations without additional accommodations.
Paramedics and bus drivers have expressed particular frustration with their working conditions. Ambulance workers reported being unable to remove their heavy uniforms regardless of temperature, while bus drivers described cab temperatures exceeding 40C, with air conditioning often non-functional. Some bus drivers recently took strike action to protest their conditions.
Union leaders and campaign advocates are pushing for maximum workplace temperature thresholds similar to those established in other European countries. Spain maintains a maximum of 27C for sedentary work and 25C for light physical work, while Belgium has tiered thresholds ranging from 18C for very heavy work to 29C for light physical work. The Trades Union Congress is calling for mandatory employer action when temperatures exceed 24C and work stoppage at 30C, or 27C for strenuous jobs, arguing that such measures have proven effective in countries with hotter climates than the UK.
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