Following reports that temperatures could reach 40 degrees in the UK for the first time ever, the UK government faces calls to implement more regulations for employees working in extreme conditions.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to implement a “plan on how to adapt and keep workers safe”.

The petition addressed to Thérèse Coffey, the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions reads:

“Every summer, temperatures are rising, and working in prolonged heat and sun can be dangerous. It can cause a number of health concerns, from dehydration and dizziness to the most serious of illnesses. The Health and Safety Executive says 4,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year as a result of outdoor working,”

“Trade unions want to see the law changed, so that employers and workers know when action must be taken to keep workers cooler and safer.”

Currently there is no law “for minimum or maximum working temperatures, eg when it’s too cold or too hot to work”, according to the government website.

The petition concluded: “It’s time to protect working people feeling the heat!”