Beat the Heat: What You Need to Know This Summer

With temperatures climbing and the HSE issuing urgent guidance, now is the time to try get ahead of the heat, not just to tick a legal box, but to genuinely look after the people doing the work.

Following a heat health alert for parts of the UK, the Health and Safety Executive is urging businesses to review how they manage hot conditions across all types of workplaces. Whether your team is on a construction site, in a warehouse, behind a desk, or out on the road, heat is a hazard that needs to be taken seriously.

The Legal Position

There is no specific legal maximum temperature for workplaces in the UK, a question that comes up often, and understandably so although in all likelihood a maximum temperature will not be put in place. The absence of a fixed number doesn’t mean there’s no obligation. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must assess all risks to their workers, and that includes thermal comfort. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 also require that temperatures in indoor workplaces are ‘reasonable’ and in a heatwave, that is easy to miss.

Heat is classed as a hazard in the same way as any other. If it’s not in your risk assessment, it needs to be.

Why It Matters Now

HSE deputy director John Rowe has been clear: last summer should have been a wake-up call. With hotter summers increasingly likely, the potential impact on workforce health and productivity is significant from heat exhaustion on outdoor sites to reduced concentration and poor decision-making in office environments.

The HSE has seen a sharp increase in requests for advice during periods of hot weather, which suggests that many employers are still reacting rather than planning ahead. The message from the regulator is simple: don’t wait for a heatwave to think about this.

What Good Looks Like

The good news is that most effective heat management measures are low-cost and straightforward. The HSE recommends employers take a practical, common-sense approach:

•       Adjust working hours where possible — earlier starts and later finishes avoid the hottest part of the day.

•       Provide free access to cold drinking water and make it easy for people to use it regularly.

•       Manage the physical environment — open or close windows strategically, use blinds or reflective film, and move workstations away from direct sunlight.

•       Insulate hot pipes and machinery that contribute to ambient temperature.

•       Allow dress code flexibility and review whether PPE requirements can be adapted safely for summer conditions.

•       Build rest breaks into the day, particularly for physically demanding roles, and provide shaded or cooled rest areas.

•       Talk to your workers — they’re often best placed to identify where the heat is having the most impact.

It’s also worth making sure that first aiders and line managers know the signs of heat-related illness: heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, rapid pulse, and headaches are early warning signs. Confusion or loss of consciousness are emergencies requiring immediate action.

A Note on Vulnerable Workers

Some workers are at greater risk in hot conditions, including those who are pregnant, older workers, those on certain medications, and anyone with an underlying health condition. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t always be enough, individual circumstances may need to be considered within your risk assessment.