How to Beat the Heat at Work (When the Law Won’t Cool You Down)

It’s an annual tradition. The temperature climbs past 25°C, the humidity spikes, and suddenly, our workplaces transform into makeshift saunas. While the British do like to complain about the weather, working through a heatwave is no laughing matter. Whether you’re stuck at a desk, operating machinery in-site or spending your day cooped up in a vehicle, staying cool is vital.

Each year, British heatwaves bring with them the kicker that there is still no legal maximum working temperature in the UK.

While the law specifies a minimum recommendation of 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) merely states that indoor workplace temperatures must be “reasonable.” Because “reasonable” is highly subjective, many workers across country are just expected to “get on with it” and find practical ways to keep cool. Whether you’re on-site or on the road, in this blog, we’ll explore how you can stay cool when at work.

How to stay cool when working indoors

If you are based in an office, warehouse or construction site, the heat builds up fast and stays trapped. Air conditioning isn’t a given in the UK, so you have to get strategic when wanting to stay cool.

Stay hydrated

It may sound cliché, but drinking cool water is important when it is hot. Consistent sips throughout the day will keep you hydrated. You should also skip the energy drinks and caffeine as they can speed up dehydration and cause a mid-afternoon crash that’ll make the heat feel twice as oppressive.

Hack the airflow

Fans don’t cool the air; they just move it across your skin to help sweat evaporate.

If the air inside is hotter than outside, open windows on opposite sides of the building to create a cross-breeze.

Combine ice and a fan

Don’t have an air conditioner at work? You can create your own. Simply place a large bowl of ice, or a frozen water bottle directly in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up the chilled air melting off the ice, helping to drop the temperature by a few degrees.

Ditch the dress code

If your workplace has a strict dress code, it’s time to lobby management to temporary drop it. By swapping synthetic trousers and ties for loose, light coloured linen or cotton, you’ll make a massive difference to your body’s thermal comfort.

Beware the heavy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

For industrial or construction sites where PPE is non-negotiable, heat stress is a real hazard. Work rates need to slow down. Employers should take this into consideration and reduce time in PPE, and ensure employees have access to shade if working outside.

How to stay cool when out on the road

Whether you’re on the highway in a HGV, or delivering parcels, being in a vehicle under direct sunlight can easily spike 10 to 15 degrees higher than the temperature outside.

Get the hot air out ASAP

Don’t just jump straight into a baking car and blast the air conditioning. Roll down all windows, drive for a minute to force the trapped hot air out of the cabin, then roll the windows back up and turn on the air conditioning to cool the cabin much faster.

Keep cool liquids to hand

If you have the space, keep a cooler bag in the passenger seat or footwell and fill it with bottles of water. If you don’t have space for a cooler, try filling bottles halfway and freezing them the night before, then filling them up with fresh water before your shift. That way, the ice will keep the water cool while it melts throughout your shift.

Park strategically

While it sounds obvious, you should actively hunt for shade during drop offs or lunch breaks.

Keep your cabin shaded

If you have one to hand, you should also pop a reflective sunshade across your windscreen when parked, or the night before your shift to stop the steering wheel and dashboard from burning your hands when you get into your vehicle.

Protect your eyes

Sunlight can bounce off the road, causing hidden fatigue and eye strain, which worsens exhaustion. Keep a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses to hand, just in case.

Stay safe at work, pace yourself and don’t be afraid to ask management for more frequent rest breaks.