Bosses should be legally forced to provide water, breaks or air conditioning if it hits 30C in the office, say MPs
Proposals come as Britain sits in the middle of a mini-heatwave - with temperatures soaring across the country
BOSSES should be legally forced to provide water, breaks or air conditioning to combat "uncomfortably high" temperatures" in the workplace, say MPs.
A group are proposing the measures should be offered to staff if the mercury hits 30C, or 27C if they do strenuous work, as Britain sits in the middle of a mini-heatwave.
Labour's Ian Mearns and the SDLP's Mark Durkan believe there is an anomaly in the law given there is a minimum working temperature but not an upper limit.
They hope a statutory maximum working temperature would secure better working conditions for those in offices, schools, shops, bakeries, call centres and elsewhere - plus protect them from potential health problems.
The duo renewed calls for a law change as forecasts suggested parts of the South East could see temperatures climb as high as 35C this afternoon - close to the record for July of 36.7C.
The early day motion, tabled in the House of Commons by Mr Mearns, states: "That this House notes that workers in the UK lack adequate legal safeguards from working in uncomfortably high temperatures, owing to the lack of a statutory maximum temperature at which employers would have to introduce control measures, such as breaks, access to water or air conditioning."
It also notes: "(This House) calls on the Government to adopt the recommendations of the TUC and joint union Cool It campaign to introduce into law a maximum working temperature of 30C or 27C for those doing strenuous work, beyond which employers would have a statutory duty to introduce effective control measures."
The motion was laid down as Britain sweltered on the hottest day of the year so far, with soaring temperatures sparking a surge in calls for medical help and causing delays on the railway in London.
Train services in and out of Paddington were delayed after heat-related speed restrictions were brought in, as the capital is currently hotter than Barcelona.
Its ambulance service said it had had 300 more calls than usual and the RSPCA said it had also seen a spike in calls from members of the public concerned about dogs left in hot cars, conservatories, sheds and caravans.
The Met Office has declared a Level 3 heatwave alert and Public Health England is urging people to take care.
Dr Angie Bone, head of extreme events at Public Health England, said: "Older people, those with underlying health conditions and young children may all feel the ill-effects of heat over the coming days."