As 47% of UK managers say the current heatwave is negatively affecting productivity, Essential Site Skills is urging employers to look beyond lost output and treat extreme heat as a serious workplace safety risk.

• 47% of UK managers say the current heatwave is negatively affecting productivity at work.

• 1,504 heat-associated deaths were estimated in England during five heat episodes in summer 2025, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

• The Health and Safety Executive advises employers to manage hot working conditions with measures such as cooler working times, more frequent rest breaks, shaded rest areas and access to cool drinking water.

• There is no specific legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK, but employers still have a duty to manage health and safety risks.

Employers are being urged to look beyond lost productivity during hot weather and treat rising temperatures as a serious workplace safety concern.

The warning follows recent polling from the Chartered Management Institute, which found that almost half of UK managers said the current heatwave had negatively affected productivity at work.

While hot offices and uncomfortable working conditions can make it harder for staff to concentrate, Essential Site Skills is warning that the issue is far more serious for outdoor, physical and safety-critical roles, including construction, logistics, maintenance and site-based work.

Hot weather can affect concentration, decision-making, reaction times and physical performance. In higher-risk environments, this can increase the likelihood of mistakes, accidents and heat-related illness.

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Catherine Storer, Industry Professional at Essential Site Skills, said: "Productivity is often the first thing businesses notice during a heatwave, but safety should be the bigger concern.

"When people are too hot, they are not usually working at their best. They may become tired, distracted, slower to react or less able to make clear decisions. In an office, that can affect output. On a construction site or in another safety-critical environment, it can increase risk.

"Employers need to recognise that hot weather is not just uncomfortable. It is a workplace hazard that needs to be managed properly."

There is currently no specific legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK. However, employers still have a duty to provide a reasonable working environment and manage health and safety risks.

The Health and Safety Executive advises employers to assess risks from hot working conditions and take practical steps to reduce them. For outdoor work, this can include rescheduling work to cooler parts of the day, providing more frequent rest breaks, introducing shade, ensuring access to cool drinking water and making sure workers can recognise the early symptoms of heat stress.

The NHS advises that heat exhaustion can usually be managed if someone can be cooled down within 30 minutes. However, if symptoms develop into heatstroke, it should be treated as a medical emergency.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were an estimated 1,504 heat-associated deaths in England during five heat episodes in summer 2025.

Catherine added: "Construction workers and others in physical roles can be particularly vulnerable during hot weather, especially when they are working in direct sunlight, carrying out demanding tasks or wearing PPE.

"Simple steps can make a real difference. Employers should be planning workloads, reviewing rest breaks, providing water, checking welfare arrangements and making sure supervisors know what to look out for.

"This is not about stopping work unnecessarily. It is about keeping people safe so work can continue sensibly."

Essential Site Skills is encouraging employers to review their hot weather procedures and communicate clearly with managers, supervisors and workers during periods of high temperatures.

Practical steps for employers include:

• Reviewing risk assessments during hot weather

• Moving physically demanding tasks to cooler parts of the day where possible

• Providing shaded rest areas

• Encouraging regular hydration

• Allowing more frequent breaks where needed

• Checking welfare facilities and ventilation

• Monitoring workers who may be more vulnerable to heat

• Making sure staff know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke

• Encouraging workers to report symptoms early

Catherine said: "Heatwave planning should not be something employers only think about once temperatures have already become uncomfortable.

"Businesses need to be proactive. Managers and supervisors should know what action to take, workers should feel able to speak up if they are struggling, and employers should make sure safety is prioritised over simply pushing through the heat.

"Productivity matters, but people's health and safety must always come first."

essentialsiteskills.co.uk