Working During a Heatwave – How to Protect Health and Ensure Safety at Work

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in the UK, and high temperatures can significantly affect both health and workplace safety. For employers, this means taking proactive steps to ensure safe working conditions. For employees, it means understanding their rights and knowing how to protect themselves. Working in extreme heat is not just uncomfortable — it can be dangerous, and both sides have responsibilities.

Why High Temperatures Are a Risk

Excessive heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, fainting, and in severe cases, heatstroke. Concentration drops, reaction times slow down, and the risk of accidents increases. People working outdoors, performing physical tasks, or working in poorly ventilated spaces are particularly vulnerable. Even healthy individuals can quickly become unwell in high temperatures, and symptoms of overheating often appear suddenly.

Employer Responsibilities During Hot Weather

Although UK law does not set a maximum workplace temperature, health and safety regulations require employers to provide conditions that do not endanger workers. This means employers must act when heat becomes uncomfortable or unsafe.

Employers should ensure access to cold drinking water, adequate ventilation, blinds or shading, and consider adjusting work patterns — for example, introducing more frequent breaks, shortening shifts, or scheduling the most demanding tasks for cooler parts of the day. Outdoor work requires additional precautions, such as providing shade and limiting exposure to direct sunlight. Every employer should also carry out a risk assessment that takes temperature and the nature of the work into account.

Employee Rights and Safe Working Practices

Employees have the right to raise concerns about excessive heat, request additional breaks, or ask for adjustments to their duties if the temperature affects their health. If conditions pose a serious and immediate danger, workers may refuse to continue working until the risk is addressed.

To stay safe, employees should drink water regularly, take short breaks, wear light and breathable clothing, and report any symptoms of overheating — such as dizziness, nausea, or weakness. Those working outdoors should also use sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day.

When Work Should Be Stopped

If an employer cannot provide basic safety measures — for example, there is no ventilation, no access to water, or temperatures reach levels that pose a health risk — work should be reduced or temporarily halted. Protecting workers’ health must always come first, and ignoring heat-related risks can lead to serious health issues and legal consequences.

Summary

Heatwaves are more than an inconvenience; they are a genuine health hazard. Employers must take steps to ensure safe working conditions, and employees have the right to expect a safe environment. Proper organisation, access to water, regular breaks, and awareness of heat-related risks can significantly reduce the danger and help everyone stay safe during hot weather.

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