Site work in a heatwave: one size doesn’t fit all

The growing risk of extreme heat

The weather this summer is set to be remembered for breaking records. Following the warmest British spring on record and the hottest individual day for May – and the second-hottest May ever globally – June has been a rollercoaster. From Met Office wind and rain warnings to a red alert for extreme heat this week and the threat of drought, conditions have veered dramatically. It is clear that extreme heat will be a consistent factor in how the construction sector operates sites, now and into the future.

While the ecological impacts of our changing climate are well documented and our industry is actively adapting to cut emissions, more must be done to ensure appropriate attention is paid to those experiencing warmer worksites. After all, the effect of increased, sustained heat on the body is undisputed. In 2022, heatwaves were associated with nearly 3,000 excess deaths in England alone.

Construction workers often face some of the highest risks during heatwaves. The nature of development necessitates extended periods exposed to the elements while wearing bulky safety clothing and personal protective equipment. Our workers face increased risks of heatstroke, dehydration and UV-related skin damage.

Stark statistics highlight this reality in quantifiable terms: although construction workers represent just 8 per cent of the UK workforce, they account for 44 per cent of occupational skin cancer cases and 42 per cent of related deaths each year, according to figures cited in a Health and Safety Executive analysis. Beyond cancer, a recent academic study found that construction workers are up to 13 times more likely to die from heat-related illness than those in other industries, while 70 per cent of site managers now cite extreme heat as their main threat to productivity and safety.

Construction workers are up to 13 times more likely to die from heat-related illness than those in other industries

One size doesn’t fit all

It’s obvious that construction workers need to be better protected. However, there is a danger that an understandable wish to promote occupational health will result in inflexible and unworkable regulations, which would significantly undermine a sector critical to national growth. More importantly, rigid temperature thresholds risk oversimplifying the real risks on site and ignore the actual dangers posed by periods of extreme heat.

It isn’t simply the temperature that creates risk, but how that heat interacts with conditions on site, the nature of the work and the protections in place. Introducing one-size-fits-all temperature thresholds risks unintended consequences, particularly at a time when the industry is already navigating cost pressures and delivery challenges.

A risk-based approach

What we need to adopt is a site-led, risk-based approach to managing extreme heat that puts people first while recognising the realities of construction. There is a lot we can learn from countries such as Singapore and Australia, where clear, structured protections are already embedded into everyday practice. Measures like shaded rest areas, enforced hydration breaks, UV protection, heat-stress awareness and site-specific risk assessments can make a meaningful difference. Standardising their use is something CCS would support without hesitation.

This is the direction reflected in CCS’s Code and Checklist, updated in May. The latest code and scoring model strengthens expectations around protecting the workforce, including clearer guidance on managing environmental conditions such as extreme heat, while reinforcing the need for site-led, risk-based approaches that prioritise worker wellbeing.

Creating safer, more resilient sites

Reports from overseas indicate that approaches such as these work. They allow sites to remain operational while significantly reducing risk and, crucially, they enable site teams to respond to changing conditions in real time in a practical, risk-based way.

But this voluntary approach must now be consistently applied – if only to catch the absolute minority of sites where significant issues have arisen. As part of our work to ensure adequate protections for construction workers on site, CCS is working to drive progress in this area and will continue to push for clearer, stronger protections.

Ultimately, this is about creating safer, more resilient working environments as our climate changes. By combining strong guidance with the flexibility to adapt on the ground, we can protect our workforce without compromising the sustainability and continuity of the industry.

As appeared in Construction News on 26 June 2026.