In the midst of a heat wave, a group of MPs is calling for workers to be sent home if temperatures in the workplace reach 30C.

A Parliamentary Early Day Motion, tabled by Halifax MP Linda Riordan, has been backed by seven other Labour MPs.

It urges the Government to resolve uncertainty for employers and employment professions by introducing a maximum working temperature and says employees doing strenuous work should be allowed to stop working if temperatures hit 27C.

Health and safety regulations are already in place that state the temperature in the workplace should be at a reasonable level but there is no clear upper limit.

The motion says that employees in a wide range of workplaces  are often subjected to high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and wellbeing. Effects range from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting, and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt.

The motion echoes the concerns of unions, with TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady reported as saying any prolonged hot and sunny spell is not going to be fun for anyone trapped inside an overheated workplace.

As soon as the temperature starts to soar and begins to nudge 24C, employers should be allowing their staff to dress down for summer and make sure that plenty of fans, portable air conditioning units and cold drinking water is available.

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1077792/send-workers-home-hot-mps