Almost 60% of tradespeople say their work has been disrupted by extreme heat, a new survey from Rhino Trade Insurance has found.
The survey of 1,079 sole traders and small trade businesses found that soaring temperatures have slowed work down, forced early finishes and in some cases led to heat-related illness on site.
Rhino surveyed tradespeople across the UK, including plumbing, gas and heating engineers, electricians, carpenters, builders and gardeners, to understand how this summer’s heat has affected their work, their health and their outlook for the future. 58.8% stated their work had been affected.
The most common impact was a slower working pace, reported by 70.8% of tradespeople, followed by finishing work early, reported by 46.7%. Over a quarter (27.4%) finished work early on four or more days this summer, including 6.6% who did so on more than ten days.
More than a quarter of tradespeople (27.4%) called off or postponed a job before starting because of forecast heat, and 9.1% stopped a job entirely once it was already underway. Client cancellations added to the disruption, with 14.5% of tradespeople reporting that a client cancelled or postponed work because of the heat.
Nearly one in five tradespeople (17.2%) said they or someone on their team had suffered a heat-related illness this summer, such as heat exhaustion, dehydration, heatstroke or dizziness. Materials and equipment were affected too, with 16.3% reporting that heat had affected tools, materials or equipment on the job.
“These figures show just how much extreme heat is beginning to shape the working day on site,” said Troy Stevens, CEO at Rhino Trade Insurance. “Tradespeople are the backbone to the country, and there is serious concern amongst the self-employed on the effects that the heat is having on them now, and in the future. Jobs are already being postponed due to the heat, affecting productivity levels, as well as hitting tradespeople in the pocket. Nearly one in five tradespeople telling us that they, or someone on their team, has been unwell from the heat is alarming.”
Adapting to hotter summers
More than a third of tradespeople (34.0%) said they had moved jobs indoors, or prioritised indoor work, to avoid the heat. 38.5% had changed their working hours, and of those, the vast majority (77.2%) started work earlier in the day, while 15.2% avoided the midday sun and 7.6% shifted to working evenings.
Almost all tradespeople (91.9%) said they now drink more water when working in hot weather, while 51.9% take more breaks, 49.6% use sun cream, 49.4% work in the shade where possible and 38.4% wear protective clothing or a hat. Just 2.0% said they take no precautions at all.
Heat has also taken a toll on project timelines, with 38.5% of tradespeople reporting at least some delay to a deadline this summer, including 3.2% who described the delays as major.
Calls for a legal maximum working temperature
The UK currently has no legal maximum working temperature. Despite this, almost two-thirds of tradespeople surveyed (64.2%) believe the industry needs one, or clearer heat-safety standards more broadly.
Looking ahead, 42.0% of tradespeople say extreme heat is a growing concern for their ability to work, compared with previous years.
