Great Britain’s safety regulator has called on employers to assess and manage the risks posed by extreme heat, warning that hotter summers could have significant implications for worker health, safety and productivity.
The warning from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) follows a heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and comes as parts of the UK experience unusually high temperatures. The workplace regulator says employers should plan ahead and implement practical measures to protect workers during periods of extreme heat.
While there is no legal maximum temperature for workplaces in the UK, employers have a duty under health and safety law to assess and control risks arising from excessive heat. The HSE stresses that heat should be treated as a workplace hazard in the same way as any other risk capable of causing harm.
The regulator is encouraging employers to review risk assessments and consult with workers on suitable control measures. Suggested interventions include improving ventilation, providing shade for outdoor workers, ensuring access to drinking water, allowing additional rest breaks and adjusting working hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Employers may also wish to relax dress codes where appropriate and move workstations away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
Factors such as humidity, workload, PPE and individual health conditions can increase the likelihood of heat stress
John Rowe, Deputy Director for Technical Support and Engagement at HSE, said that last summer’s temperatures should have served as a warning to employers. He noted that increasingly hot summers could affect everything from worker wellbeing to productivity, particularly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing.
Heat-related risks can affect both indoor and outdoor workers. The HSE notes that factors such as humidity, workload, personal protective equipment (PPE) and individual health conditions can increase the likelihood of heat stress. Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, dehydration, headaches and reduced concentration, all of which can contribute to workplace incidents and injuries.
UK advised to set maximum workplace temperature limits
The warning comes amid growing debate about whether the UK should introduce a maximum legal working temperature. The Climate Change Committee recently recommended workplace temperature regulations as part of wider adaptation measures, although health and safety bodies have argued that a risk-based approach remains more practical than a single temperature threshold.
The latest advice highlights the growing challenge posed by climate change. As periods of extreme heat become more frequent, organisations may need to treat heat management as a routine element of occupational risk management rather than an occasional seasonal issue. Employers are therefore being encouraged to review existing controls now, before temperatures rise further during the summer months.
