Managing workplace safety during the summer season
A recent Met Office report warns that UK heatwaves will become longer and hotter and increasingly likely to exceed 40°C, due to escalating climate trends. For safety-critical industries such as rail, construction, manufacturing, utilities and energy, or logistics and transportation, these pressures can create serious health risks and operational challenges. That’s why it’s vital that businesses remain vigilant to protect the health, wellbeing and productivity of their workforce.
Learn how your organisation can navigate the challenges of the summer season while maintaining compliance and safeguarding your employees.
How summer can affect workplace safety
In industries where safety is critical, summer can present various risk factors including:
Heatwaves and high temperatures increase the risk of heat stress and dehydration.
Fatigue, particularly in safety-critical roles, becomes more prevalent.
Substance misuse can rise with increased social activity.
Planning ahead and adopting a comprehensive occupational health strategy is essential to stay ahead of seasonal challenges. Below are our tips for preparing your business to cope with - and reduce - these increased risk factors.
Address the impact of heatwaves and high temperatures
Heatwaves can drastically reduce productivity and employee availability and a UK labour‑market study found that each 1 °C above average led to a nearly 10 % drop in hours worked and effort. Managing the physical health risks associated with high temperatures must also be a safety priority it’s crucial that businesses take steps to prepare for the risk factors they can cause.
Key heatwave hazards:
Dehydration
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
Reduced concentration and coordination
Fatigue and drowsiness
These risks are particularly serious in sectors such as construction, manufacturing and utilities and energy, where work often takes place outdoors or in hot environments.
Practical steps to mitigate heat risks:
Encourage hydration: Provide water stations and ensure workers are taking regular breaks.
Adjust work schedules: Shift outdoor or heavy work to cooler hours (e.g. early morning).
Conduct medical assessments for vulnerable workers (e.g. those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions).
Provide heat-appropriate PPE and clothing.
Educate staff on the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and provide First Aid training.
Monitor and manage fatigue in safety-critical roles
Fatigue is a silent but dangerous threat, particularly in rail, logistics and transport, where alertness is essential for safety-critical tasks. Workers are at greater risk of fatigue during summer due to covering for colleagues, the effects of higher temperatures, and increased social activity.
How to reduce the risk of fatigue:
Rotate shifts to ensure adequate rest periods.
Provide access to mental health and wellbeing support for stress and sleep-related issues.
Encourage breaks, especially in high-temperature conditions.
Use occupational health assessments to identify signs of fatigue and recommend adjustments.
Raise awareness with training that focuses on proactive fatigue management and self-care.
A well-rested worker is a safer and more productive worker. Occupational health professionals like Express Medicals can support the development of fatigue risk management plans to protect staff and ensure regulatory compliance.
Maintain a robust drug and alcohol testing programme
Summer social activities such as festivals, weddings, BBQs and parties can lead to an increase in drug and alcohol consumption. This makes a consistent, zero-tolerance approach to substance misuse more important than ever, particularly in safety-sensitive sectors.
Why drug and alcohol testing is essential:
Reduces the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.
Supports legal compliance across high-risk industries.
Promotes a culture of accountability and professionalism.
Identifies employees who may need mental health and wellbeing support.
Recommended actions:
Increase the frequency of random and for-cause drug and alcohol testing during summer months.
Use specific training to educate teams on drug policies and procedures.
Offer support and referrals to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or similar for those who test positive.
Our team occupational health professionals offer rapid, confidential drug and alcohol testing solutions tailored to the unique demands of the rail, construction, manufacturing, utilities and transportation sectors.
Support employee mental health and wellbeing
While summer can be a time of joy, it can also heighten anxiety, stress and isolation for some employees. Family pressures, financial concerns related to childcare, or even loneliness during quiet office periods can take a toll.
Key ways to promote mental health during summer:
Offer access to mental health and wellbeing support, including counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs).
Run awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health issues.
Provide training for managers to recognise signs of distress in their team members.
Include mental health in occupational health assessments to proactively identify concerns.
A mentally healthy workforce is more engaged, more productive, and less likely to suffer accidents or illnesses at work.
Keep safety at the heart of summer operations
Whether you're managing engineering teams on railway lines, logistics crews in busy depots, or utility engineers in the field, summer operations must prioritise health and safety across the board.
Actions to maintain safety and productivity:
Conduct summer-specific occupational health assessments to evaluate heat risk, fatigue and PPE suitability.
Review risk assessments to account for seasonal hazards.
Train temporary or agency workers thoroughly to avoid gaps in safety knowledge.
Maintain open communication with staff - encourage reporting of symptoms, near misses, or safety concerns.
Using a proactive, occupational health-led approach to summer safety can reduce absenteeism, improve morale and lower incident rates.
Invest in specialist occupational health support
The combination of high-risk industries and seasonal pressures means that summer is no time to relax your occupational health strategy. Partnering with an experienced provider like Express Medicals ensures your business stays resilient and compliant.
We support organisations of all sizes across rail, construction, manufacturing, utilities, energy and logistics, with tailored occupational health services designed to:
Keep employees fit for duty.
Reduce risks from environmental and seasonal factors.
Promote workplace wellbeing year-round.
Ensure full regulatory compliance.
In conclusion
From managing heatwaves and holiday absences to preventing fatigue and substance misuse, the risks during the summer season can be significant - but they’re also entirely manageable with the right support in place.
As a leading provider of occupational health services, including medical assessments, occupational health referrals, drug and alcohol testing and mental health and wellbeing support, we understand the seasonal pressures placed on businesses during the summer months.
By investing in occupational health services like drug and alcohol testing, mental health and wellbeing support, Employee Assistance Programmes, medical assessments and occupational health assessments, businesses can protect their workforce, reduce operational disruption, and maintain safety in even the most demanding conditions.
Need help managing your occupational health strategy this summer? Contact us today to learn more.
