A guide to: safe working in hot weather

There are various common health-related injuries or conditions. These include:

• exhaustion
• dehydration
• heat stroke
• sunburn
• rashes
• eye damage
• fainting

For those who work outside in hot weather conditions, there is also an increased risk of skin cancer.

There are many tips for staying safe in hot weather, such as:

• use a cooling cloth on the back of your neck to the correct body temperature
• eat little portions throughout the day rather than a large lunch 
• wiping your face with a cool wet cloth
• avoiding high-protein food
• choosing to eat fruit with a high amount of fibre

Below we look at some key tips for staying safe in hot weather working conditions.

One way to stay safe working in hot weather is to wear lighter clothing. Your employer may allow formal wear to be less formal during hot weather. For example, you may not have to wear a tie.

If you work outside it is wise to wear a hat to protect you from the heat of the sun. Good quality sunglasses will help to protect your eyes. You should also wear light and loose clothing to reflect the sun. And if your clothes become saturated from the heat, you should change them.

You must stay hydrated when working in hot weather. Your employer has a legal duty to provide you with fresh drinking water in the workplace. You should ensure you drink plenty of water at the beginning of your working day which should amount to about 16 ounces. You must continue to drink throughout the day and this should be five to seven ounces each 15 to 20 minutes. 

You should also avoid drinks which can dehydrate you. These include:

• fizzy drinks
• caffeinated soft drinks
• coffee
• alcohol
• other hot beverages such as tea

Wearing sun protection is essential when you work outside in hot weather conditions. UV radiation is an occupational hazard for workers who work outdoors so your employers must by law try to protect you from it. UV protection should be applied every hour or two and you should ensure it is SPF 15 or above. You should always avoid direct sunlight when working outdoors in hot weather conditions. 

Working in hot weather requires you to pace yourself to stay safe. This helps you to have a regular level of energy throughout the day rather than begin with lots of energy and have none later on. Therefore, start your day slowly. 

Staying safe at work in the heat means taking regular indoor breaks. Your employer has a legal duty to allow you certain rest breaks during work.  

When you take a break you should remove any PPE as it is likely to be unnecessary wearing it as you are resting. If you can, take more frequent breaks than normal when working in hot weather. When you do take a work break, assess how you are coping with hot weather conditions. 

When you do find you are working in hot conditions, try and work in a shaded area of the workplace. This could mean:

• moving your desk slightly 
• closing blinds
• if working outside, choose the shade
• using umbrellas as shades if working outdoors
• making use of any flexible working conditions such as working at cooler times of the day

You can stay safer working in hot weather if you know that there will be hot working conditions. To do this, all you need to do is to check the weather forecast regularly. This allows you to plan by wearing appropriate clothing on a hot day.

If you start to feel unwell at work when working in hot conditions, you should stop working. You should tell others you feel ill, including your manager. Symptoms of heat-related illness include:

• headaches
• feeling dizzy
• little appetite
• feeling nauseous 
• sweating excessively
• bodily cramps
• faster than normal breathing
• a body temperature of over 38C
• feeling intensely thirsty
• flushed face
• fatigue
• clammy skin
• confusion
• slurred speech

^{Last updated 31.05.23}