June’s heatwave brought periods of exceptionally high temperatures across parts of the UK, with red heat alerts issued for areas of England and Wales and temperatures approaching 38–39°C.
High temperatures can create operational, health and safety, and property-related risks for businesses. Reviewing how your organisation prepares for and responds to extreme heat can help strengthen resilience and support business continuity.
Extreme heat should be considered within business continuity planning.
Extreme heat has the potential to disrupt normal business operations. Depending on the nature of the business, this may include changes to working patterns, reduced productivity, pressure on equipment and buildings, or disruption to normal service delivery.
- Include heatwaves within business continuity planning alongside other operational risks, such as storms or power outages.
- Identify heat-sensitive processes, such as server rooms, kitchens and manufacturing lines, and consider contingency arrangements.
- Agree flexible working arrangements in advance where they may support business continuity.
The extent to which business interruption insurance responds to a loss will depend on the circumstances of the incident and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy. It is good practice to review your cover regularly.
Staff safety should remain a priority.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminds employers of their legal duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, including during periods of hot weather. Outdoor workers, warehouse staff and employees working in poorly ventilated environments may require additional consideration.
- Review risk assessments to consider the effects of heat and humidity.
- Develop a clear heat policy covering hydration, rest breaks, PPE requirements and when work may need to be adjusted.
- Communicate arrangements clearly so employees understand how heat alerts will be managed.
Appropriate health and safety measures can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness and may also help reduce the likelihood of workplace incidents.
Equipment and infrastructure should be prepared for high temperatures.
High temperatures can affect equipment, machinery, buildings and cooling systems, particularly where equipment operates within recommended temperature limits.
- Review critical equipment to understand its operating temperature range and consider temperature monitoring where appropriate.
- Maintain cooling and ventilation systems, particularly in server rooms and production areas.
- Consider contingency arrangements for power or cooling failures where these could affect operations.
Whether property or equipment insurance responds to heat-related losses will depend on the cause of the damage and the terms of the policy. Regular reviews can help ensure cover remains appropriate for your business.
Flexible working can support operational resilience.
There is no legal maximum workplace temperature in the UK. Employers are required to ensure workplace temperatures are reasonable and to manage any risks identified through their health and safety assessments.
Where appropriate, businesses may wish to consider measures such as:
- Flexible working hours.
- Temporary remote working.
- Relaxed dress codes where suitable.
- Access to drinking water, fans and shaded or cooler areas.
The most appropriate approach will depend on the nature of the work being carried out.
Post-event reviews can help identify improvements.
Reviewing how your business responded to a period of extreme weather can help identify opportunities to improve future planning.
- Carry out a post-heatwave review to identify where disruption occurred and any lessons learned.
- Update your risk register to reflect any heat-related risks identified across people, premises, equipment and supply chains.
- Review your insurance arrangements to ensure they continue to reflect your current operations and risk profile.
Where appropriate, an insurance broker can help review existing cover and identify any areas that may require further consideration.
A simple action checklist
Assess: Review heat-related risks across staff, premises, equipment and logistics.
Plan: Update business continuity arrangements and develop a clear heat policy.
Protect: Maintain cooling systems, review equipment and consider contingency arrangements.
Review: Evaluate the impact of recent hot weather and review your insurance programme where appropriate.
Final thought
Periods of extreme heat can present a range of operational challenges for businesses. Taking the opportunity to review business continuity arrangements, health and safety procedures, and insurance cover can help organisations prepare for future periods of hot weather.
If you would like to review your current insurance arrangements or discuss your business risks, speaking to a specialist insurance broker can help you understand whether your cover remains appropriate for your organisation.