The UK construction industry can no longer ignore heat, warns Dr Alba Fuertes, associate professor at the University of Reading’s School of the Built Environment
Recent heatwaves have shown that high temperatures are no longer exceptional in the UK. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat, construction faces an emerging occupational health challenge that demands urgent attention.
Our research from the University of Reading highlights just how unprepared many construction sites remain. Drawing on responses from 307 managers and site workers across medium and large construction companies, the study paints a concerning picture of growing heat risks, inconsistent protective measures and significant gaps between management perceptions and workers’ lived experiences.
The findings suggest that heat is already affecting workers’ health, wellbeing and project performance.
Heat is already affecting construction workers
Construction workers are particularly vulnerable to heat stress because they undertake physically demanding tasks outdoors, often while wearing personal protective equipment and with limited access to shade and water.
The study found that 67% of workers were concerned about heat’s impact on their health, while 44% had experienced a heat-related illness such as dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke at work.
Workers also reported increased fatigue, reduced concentration, lower morale and greater irritability during hot weather, all of which can compromise safe decision-making and increase the likelihood of mistakes and accidents.
Importantly, the findings challenge the perception that heat only becomes a problem during extreme heatwaves. Many workers reported feeling unwell and experiencing reduced performance at temperatures of just 20C-25C, conditions that are becoming increasingly common during UK summers. Heat should therefore be recognised as a routine occupational health and safety risk rather than an occasional seasonal issue.
Moving beyond basic heat protection
While many organisations have introduced measures such as drinking water, shaded rest areas and additional breaks, these remain relatively basic responses. Although these are important first steps, more proactive adaptations, including formal heat management plans, targeted training, work rescheduling and investment in cooling technologies, remain far less common.
As hotter summers become more frequent, relying on reactive measures alone is unlikely to protect workers or minimise disruption to project delivery.
The research also identified a clear disconnect between managers and workers’ perceptions of these measures. Managers were generally more confident that sites were well prepared and that interventions such as shaded rest areas, hydration facilities and adjusted work schedules were readily available and effective.
Workers, however, consistently reported lower levels of access to these protections and were less likely to view them as effective in practice. This gap matters because successful heat management depends not only on having policies in place but on ensuring they are implemented consistently and experienced by those most at risk.
The findings suggest that many organisations may believe they are managing heat effectively, while workers continue to face preventable heat-related risks.
The need for clearer guidance
Although employers have a legal duty to manage workplace risks, there is little specific guidance on when heat becomes unsafe for construction work or what control measures should be expected. This lack of sector-specific guidance creates uncertainty and leads to inconsistent approaches between projects and organisations.
The research also suggests that many workers continue to rely on personal experience rather than formal training to manage heat exposure. While experience is important, it should be supported by consistent education, clear organisational procedures and evidence-based guidance.
As periods of extreme heat become more frequent, the construction sector needs clearer, industry-specific guidance that helps employers protect workers while remaining flexible enough to accommodate different site conditions and construction activities.
Time to adapt
Protecting workers’ health must remain the priority, but the consequences of heat extend well beyond wellbeing. Fatigue, reduced concentration and slower work rates affect productivity, quality, programme delivery and project costs, with many project managers already reporting delays and additional expenditure during hot weather. Protecting workers and maintaining productivity should therefore be viewed as complementary objectives.
The research suggests that although awareness of heat-related risks is increasing, investment in long-term adaptation remains limited. Dedicated budgets, formal training and site-specific heat management are still far from routine, despite growing recognition that climate change will continue to reshape construction working conditions.
The construction industry has successfully transformed its approach to major health and safety challenges before, and heat stress deserves the same level of attention. As hotter summers become the norm, the question is no longer whether construction must adapt, but how quickly.
Organisations that act now, by embedding heat resilience into project planning, investing in their workforce and moving beyond short-term responses, will be better placed to protect their people, improve project performance and build safely in a changing climate.
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