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Working in Hot Temperatures this Summer
We often think of health and safety in terms of physical hazards or equipment, but excessive heat can be just as dangerous if not properly managed. Whether you’re running an office or a construction site, understanding your responsibilities in hot weather is essential.
In this blog, we’ll clarify what’s expected of employers, explore what constitutes a “reasonable” working temperature, and share practical steps you can take to protect your team during hot weather events.
As temperatures soar across the UK this summer, we feel it is important to revisit this topic to help you understand the dos and don’ts of managing a workplace in the heat.
Working in hot temperatures – is it too hot to work?
There is no law or official guidance for the maximum temperature in workplaces. However, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace during work hours.
Similarly, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations require reasonable workplace temperatures for indoor areas of construction sites. Outdoor sites must have protection from adverse weather where reasonably practicable.
What is a reasonable working temperature?
Employers are responsible for deciding what a reasonable temperature should be in their workplace. A reasonable temperature is one that:
- Does not cause severe discomfort or pose a health risk.
- Allows employees to perform duties safely.
- Considers environmental factors.
- Varies depending on the type of work and PPE used.
Employers should conduct a risk assessment and act on any findings by implementing temperature controls. Many workplaces will require temporary or seasonal temperature controls to manage hot weather.
How to manage workplace temperatures?
Hot weather can pose a significant risk to workers’ health if not properly managed, even when working indoors. Follow these simple actions to protect workers from heat stress on hot days.
Indoors:
- Provide clean and fresh air circulation for cooling (such as opening windows and using fans or air-
conditioning systems). - Shade employees from direct sunlight (such as by using window blinds or positioning workstations away from windows).
- Put insulating materials around hot pipes.
- Provide cold water dispensers.
- Provide rest facilities.
Introducing work arrangements compatible with heat protection can also prevent workers from getting too hot. Work-
Outdoors:
- Reschedule work to cooler times of day.
- Provide frequent rest breaks in shaded rest areas.
- Provide free cold water.
- Shade work areas where reasonably practical.
Workers wearing PPE:
- Encourage workers to remove PPE immediately after use and allow it to dry completely before reusing it, or replace the PPE completely.
- Allow slower work rates and longer rest times.
- Rotate staff more frequently.
- Reschedule work to cooler times of day if possible.
- Re-
evaluate your workers’ PPE – is there newer/lighter PPE available? Can your workers wear less PPE without compromising safety?
Need help managing heat risks in your workplace?
At RISG Health and Safety Consultancy, we provide expert advice and tailored solutions to help you meet your legal duties and protect your workers during extreme temperatures. Whether you're reviewing your risk assessments, updating policies, or rethinking PPE requirements, our experienced consultants are here to help.
Don’t wait until it’s too hot to act — contact RISG today and stay compliant, safe, and heat-
01792 721750 (Swansea)
02920 099450 (Cardiff).