Occupational health heatwave guidance published as UK employers urged to prepare for hotter workplaces 

The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) has published new heatwave guidance for employers, calling on organisations to take practical steps to protect workers from heat-related illness, reduce safety risks and maintain productivity as periods of extreme heat become more common. 

Released on 9 July, the guidance provides employers and workers with practical advice on managing the health risks associated with high temperatures, reinforcing the need for heat to be treated as an occupational health issue, rather than simply a seasonal inconvenience.  

The publication comes as much of England remains under heat-health alerts, with employers increasingly being encouraged to consider how rising temperatures affect both physical health and workplace performance. Recent guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also reminds organisations of their legal duty to assess and manage risks associated with extreme heat.  

SOM’s guidance highlights a range of measures employers can take, including carrying out heat risk assessments, ensuring access to drinking water and shaded or cooler environments, adapting work schedules where possible, encouraging regular rest breaks and paying particular attention to employees who may be more vulnerable to heat, including those with underlying health conditions, pregnant workers and employees undertaking physically demanding roles. 

The guidance also recognises that heat can affect more than physical wellbeing. Reduced concentration, impaired decision-making and fatigue can increase the risk of accidents while also affecting productivity, making proactive planning increasingly important across both indoor and outdoor workplaces. 

The recommendations extend to office-based employees and those working from home, where poor ventilation, prolonged screen use and inadequate cooling can contribute to discomfort and reduced performance during periods of hot weather. 

The publication reflects growing recognition that climate change is becoming an occupational health issue, requiring employers to consider how increasingly frequent heatwaves affect workforce health, safety and business continuity.