Preparing your business for extreme heat

From floods and storms, extreme weather comes in all forms. And increasingly, UK businesses are having to prepare for another threat: extreme heat.

The Met Office has warned that UK heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as our climate changes. As periods of extreme heat become more common, businesses are increasingly having to consider the impact on their people, premises and day-to-day operations.

Whether you're managing a construction site, running a retail business or overseeing commercial property, a heatwave can create challenges that go far beyond employee comfort. But taking a few simple precautions can help reduce disruption and keep people safe when temperatures rise.

How can hot weather affect businesses?

Unlike storms or flooding, hot weather rarely forces businesses to close overnight. Instead, the effects are often gradual, making them easier to overlook.

Employees may become fatigued more quickly, outdoor work may need to be slower or be rescheduled, and equipment can struggle to operate efficiently in sustained high temperatures. Businesses that rely on refrigeration, temperature-sensitive stock or vehicle fleets may face additional pressures.

For tradespeople and construction firms, prolonged exposure to heat can also increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and reduced concentration. That can have knock-on effects for productivity, safety and project timelines.

Extreme heat can create a range of challenges for businesses, including:

• Employee illness and reduced productivity
• Equipment and technology overheating
• Spoiled or damaged stock
• Increased fire risk
• Vehicle breakdowns
• Supply chain delays and disruption

The impact will vary between businesses, but extreme heat has the potential to affect people, property and operations all at once.

Is there a legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK?

Currently, there is no maximum workplace temperature set out in UK law.

However, employers still have a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises employers to assess risks caused by excessive heat and take reasonable steps to protect employees.

Workplace temperatures must be reasonable, and employers should assess any risks created by excessive heat.

The HSE also advises employers to take practical steps to manage uncomfortable temperatures and reduce the risks associated with hot working environments. Take a look at its temperature in the workplace guide.

Can employees refuse to work in extreme heat?

Not necessarily.

While there is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK, employees have the right to raise concerns if they believe working conditions are unsafe.

Under health and safety law, employers must assess workplace risks and take reasonable steps to protect employees from harm. If excessive heat creates a genuine health and safety risk, employers should consider what measures can be taken to reduce that risk, such as improving ventilation, adjusting working hours or introducing additional breaks.

Whether an employee can refuse to work will depend on the circumstances. Employees should raise concerns with their employer first so that appropriate action can be considered.

If you're an employer, it's important to take concerns about extreme heat seriously and review whether any temporary adjustments are needed to protect staff and maintain safe working conditions.

What are employers responsible for during hot weather?

Although there is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK, employers still have legal duties under health and safety legislation.

According to the HSE, employers must provide a reasonable temperature in indoor workplaces and assess any risks to employees' health and safety caused by excessive heat, especially for employees working outdoors. Heat is treated as a workplace hazard in the same way as any other health and safety risk.

That doesn't necessarily mean sending employees home during a heatwave. Instead, employers should consider what practical measures are needed to reduce risk.

Depending on the nature of the work and the risks identified, employers may need to:

• Provide access to drinking water
• Improve ventilation
• Introduce additional rest breaks
• Adjust working hours to reduce workloads during the hottest part of the day
• Relax dress codes where appropriate

Employer advice and dispute resolution service, ACAS, also advises employers to plan ahead for extreme temperatures, carry out risk assessments and take steps to keep employees comfortable and safe. Their guidance covers in-office workers, those working outdoors, as well as people who work from home.

Practical ways to prepare your business for hot weather

It’s best to have a plan in place before temperatures rise. This can help minimise disruption and avoid you scrabbling around making decisions at the last minute, when you’re probably hot yourself.

Check your premises

Review whether your workplace is equipped to cope with higher temperatures.

This could include:

• Testing fans or air conditioning systems
• Making sure windows and ventilation systems are functioning properly
• Identifying areas that become particularly hot during the day
• Reviewing fire safety procedures

If you own or manage commercial property, it's also worth checking that roofs, electrical systems and temperature-sensitive equipment are in good condition.

Protect stock and equipment

Hot weather can affect everything from food and drink to electronic equipment and machinery.

Consider whether any stock requires temperature-controlled storage and whether backup measures are available if cooling systems fail.

For businesses that rely heavily on technology, overheating can lead to system failures, downtime and lost productivity.

Review working arrangements

During periods of extreme heat, flexible working arrangements may help reduce risks and improve comfort.

For some businesses, that could mean starting earlier in the day, allowing employees to work remotely or rescheduling physically demanding tasks for cooler hours.

For trades and construction businesses, this could mean scheduling physically demanding work earlier in the morning, where possible or providing additional breaks during the hottest part of the day.

Small changes can make a significant difference when temperatures remain high for several days.

Keep an eye on weather warnings

Monitoring forecasts and official weather warnings can help you prepare ahead rather than reacting when temperatures are already affecting operations.

The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency regularly issue weather and heat-health alerts that can help businesses assess potential risks.

Can insurance help protect your business?

While insurance can't prevent disruption caused by hot weather, it may help your business recover if problems arise.

Depending on your policy and the circumstances involved, cover could help with:

• Damage to business property
• Equipment breakdown
• Lost income following an insured event
• Employers' liability claims
• Business interruption claims
• Risks associated with managing commercial premises

It's worth reviewing your policies regularly to make sure they reflect the way your business operates and any seasonal risks you may face.

Preparing for all types of severe weather

Storms and flooding have traditionally been the focus of business continuity planning, but hot weather is becoming an increasingly important consideration for UK businesses.

By taking simple steps to protect employees, premises and equipment, businesses can reduce the impact of extreme temperatures and continue operating safely when the mercury rises.

For more advice on preparing for storms, flooding and other severe weather events, read our guide to protecting your business against severe weather.