Legislation in England and Wales is prompting businesses to review workplace safety measures as increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat raise concerns about employee wellbeing and employers’ legal responsibilities.
The Met Office has recognised around 10–15 heatwaves or extreme temperature events since 2020, with such occurrences expected to become more common. While UK law does not set a maximum temperature at which employees must stop working, employers cannot ignore the associated risks of excessive workplace heat and are legally obliged under the Workplace Regulations, to maintain temperatures at a “reasonable” level and to assess and manage risks appropriately.
Although workplaces are not required to close during hot weather, businesses are expected to take reasonable steps to protect their employees where heat presents a health and safety risk. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not specify a maximum workplace temperature and recognise that risks may vary between different environments such as; offices, warehouses, kitchens and manufacturing plants.
High temperatures can reduce concentration, decision-making and productivity, while prolonged exposure increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other. Factors relating to individuals such as age and underlying health conditions can further increase vulnerability.
Employers are encouraged to consider practical measures during periods of extreme heat, including improved ventilation, additional breaks, readily available drinking water and effective cooling solutions. Increasingly, businesses are turning to energy-efficient technologies such as the Climate Wizard indirect evaporative cooling system, distributed in the UK by us, here at Humidity Solutions Ltd. Unlike conventional direct evaporative coolers, Climate Wizard delivers significant cooling without adding moisture to the conditioned space, helping organisations maintain comfortable working environments while minimising energy consumption and operating costs.
Flexible working arrangements, adjusted shift patterns and relaxed dress codes may also help reduce heat-related risks. The focus is not simply employee comfort but the management of foreseeable health and safety concerns.
As climate change drives more frequent periods of extreme weather, workplace heat management is becoming an increasingly important issue for employers, employees and regulators. While there may be no official “too hot to work” temperature, businesses remain legally responsible for ensuring staff can work safely, and adopting effective, low-energy cooling technologies can play a key role in meeting that obligation.
– Tom Shiers, Business Development Manager – Industrial Temperature Control
