When the sun makes an appearance, many of us welcome the hot weather. However, higher temperatures can also introduce health and safety risks that employers should not be overlooking. Summer comes every year, and every year we are seeing very high temperatures in the UK. Our businesses need to be ready for it.
Whether your teams work outdoors on construction sites, in agriculture, logistics and maintenance, or indoors in offices, warehouses, workshops, kitchens or manufacturing environments, excessive heat can affect comfort, concentration and overall wellbeing.
The good news is that a few simple, practical measures can significantly reduce the risks.
Does the Law Set a Maximum Workplace Temperature?
This is one of the questions we’re asked quite often.
The short answer is no.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not specify a maximum legal working temperature. However, employers have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 to ensure workplaces are maintained at a reasonable temperature and that risks to employees are assessed and managed.
Where high temperatures could affect health or safety, employers should consider suitable control measures as part of their risk assessment.
Why Hot Weather Matters
Working in hot conditions doesn’t just feel uncomfortable.
Heat can contribute to:
- Reduced concentration
- Increased fatigue
- Slower reaction times
- Poor decision-making
- Dehydration
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke in severe cases
These factors can increase the likelihood of mistakes, incidents and injuries, particularly where employees are undertaking physically demanding work or operating machinery.
Outdoor Working
Employees working outdoors may be exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
Practical control measures include:
- Providing access to cool drinking water.
- Encouraging regular hydration throughout the day.
- Planning heavier work for cooler parts of the morning where possible.
- Rotating physically demanding tasks.
- Providing shaded rest areas.
- Allowing additional rest breaks where appropriate.
- Encouraging suitable clothing and sun protection. Remove the need for heavy PPE when it isn’t necessary.
Indoor Working
Heat isn’t only an outdoor issue.
Offices, warehouses, workshops, commercial kitchens and manufacturing facilities can become extremely warm during the summer months.
Consider:
- Improving natural ventilation.
- Using fans or mechanical ventilation.
- Reducing unnecessary heat sources.
- Ensuring cool drinking water is readily available.
- Reviewing workloads during particularly hot periods.
- Opting for work at home strategies, where work can allow it.
- Checking that welfare facilities remain suitable and comfortable.
Recognising the Signs of Heat Stress
Managers and employees should understand the early signs of heat-related illness.
Symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Excessive sweating
- Confusion
- Weakness or unusual fatigue
If someone becomes unwell, they should be moved to a cooler area, encouraged to drink water if appropriate and monitored. Serious symptoms may require urgent medical assistance.
Don’t Forget Your Risk Assessment
Hot weather can temporarily change the risks within your workplace. As we said, high temperatures in the UK shouldnt be a surprise to us, we can start planning for it.
Consider whether higher temperatures could affect:
- Manual handling activities
- Lone working
- PPE requirements
- Fatigue levels
- Working hours
- Outdoor activities
- Employee welfare
- Vulnerable workers, including pregnant employees and those with certain medical conditions
Your existing risk assessments may simply need reviewing to reflect seasonal conditions rather than creating entirely new documents.
A Few Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Managing hot weather doesn’t always require major changes.
Often, simple planning, good communication and practical adjustments are enough to keep people safe and comfortable while maintaining productivity.
At SHE Does Safety, we support businesses with practical health, safety and fire advice that reflects how work is carried out and how it should be carried out.
If you’d like support reviewing your workplace arrangements or risk assessments, we’d be happy to help.
And finally…
If Simba has taught us anything this week, it’s that sometimes the safest thing to do is stretch out, slow down and find a cool spot in the shade.
hello@shedoessafety.co.uk | 07823926058 | CONTACT US
