As temperatures rise, many employers and HR teams will be asking the same question: how prepared are we to manage heat in the workplace?
Workplace heat is not simply a comfort issue. Hot weather can affect concentration, safety, productivity and employee wellbeing, particularly in physically demanding, safety-critical or public-facing roles. Although the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not set a legal maximum workplace temperature, employers still have clear duties under health and safety legislation to ensure working conditions are reasonable and that risks are properly assessed and managed.
At Workforce Wellbeing, our consultant physician-led team regularly supports organisations with fitness for work concerns, health surveillance programmes, management referrals and complex occupational health cases where environmental conditions contribute to absence or workplace risk.
Excessive heat affects both physical and cognitive performance. Occupational health research has consistently linked heat exposure with:
In safety-critical environments, even relatively small reductions in alertness can become significant.
Heat can also aggravate existing health conditions including:
In occupational health practice, heat-related concerns are often multifactorial. Employees already managing fatigue, poor sleep, mental health difficulties or medication side effects may become significantly more vulnerable during periods of sustained hot weather.
As warmer summers become more common, workplace temperature management is increasingly becoming part of good occupational health governance rather than simply a seasonal issue.
Heat stress occurs when the body cannot regulate its core temperature effectively. It can develop quickly, particularly where work is physically demanding, undertaken outdoors, or involves personal protective equipment (PPE) that limits the body’s ability to cool itself.
Early symptoms may include:
Without intervention, this can progress to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.
The HSE identifies increased risk where work involves:
One issue employers sometimes overlook is that PPE required to control one workplace hazard may increase heat burden and dehydration risk. This can be particularly relevant in operational environments involving respiratory protective equipment, or physically demanding outdoor tasks.
Some employees may require additional consideration during periods of hot weather, including:
Menopause is increasingly recognised as an important workplace wellbeing issue. Elevated temperatures can significantly worsen symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbance, fatigue and concentration difficulties.
Similarly, some neurodivergentemployees may experience heat, humidity, noise or PPE requirements differently. In these situations, relatively small workplace adjustments may make a substantial difference to comfort and functioning.
Where there is uncertainty regarding an employee’s fitness to work safely in elevated temperatures, a management referral for occupational health assessment may be appropriate.
Organisations that manage heat effectively usually take a proactive and proportionate approach.
Reasonable measures may include:
For outdoor workers, shaded rest areas and sun protection should be considered essential controls during periods of prolonged heat.
The CIPD has also encouraged employers to consider flexible working arrangements during periods of extreme heat as part of a broader approach to employee wellbeing and workforce support.
Line managers play an important role in identifying early signs of heat-related difficulty.
Managers should understand:
This is particularly important where employees already have underlying health concerns, fatigue, stress or reduced resilience.
Good manager awareness often prevents relatively minor concerns escalating into sickness absence or safety incidents.
The psychological impact of hot weather is often underestimated.
Poor sleep during heatwaves, uncomfortable commuting conditions and prolonged heat exposure can contribute to:
For employees already managing mental health conditions, these environmental stressors may worsen existing symptoms.
A flexible and supportive approach during periods of extreme heat can improve wellbeing, employee trust and workforce engagement.
There is no single temperature at which work automatically becomes unsafe.
What matters is whether employers can demonstrate that they have:
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and occupational health bodies, has highlighted that rising temperatures linked to climate change and global warming are increasing workplace heat risk. Current guidance emphasises the importance of practical, proportionate risk assessment rather than relying on a single temperature threshold.
Organisations that manage workplace heat effectively generally report fewer heat-related concerns, lower absence risk and a better overall employee experience.
No. The HSE does not set a specific upper workplace temperature limit. Employers are expected to ensure temperatures remain reasonable and that risks are properly assessed and managed.
A management referral may be appropriate where:
Heat stress refers to the physiological strain placed on the body when it struggles to regulate temperature. Heat exhaustion is a clinical condition that can result from unmanaged heat stress and may include heavy sweating, weakness and rapid pulse.
Yes. Heat can significantly worsen menopause symptoms including hot flushes, sleep disturbance, fatigue and concentration difficulties. Employers should consider whether adjustments may be appropriate.
Workforce Wellbeing is a consultant physician-led occupational health provider supporting organisations across a broad range of sectors.
Our services include:
Our multidisciplinary clinical team includes Occupational Health Physicians, Fellows and Members of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, experienced Occupational Health Nurses, and specialist clinicians with extensive experience across local government, healthcare, education, manufacturing, utilities, police, fire and other safety-critical sectors.
If you would like advice on managing workplace heat risk, supporting vulnerable employees or reviewing occupational health arrangements within your organisation, Please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Last reviewed: 23 May 2026
Reviewed by Dr Massoud Mansouri, Consultant Specialist in Occupational Medicine. His work includes fitness-for-work assessments, safety-critical occupational health and complex workplace health cases.
