Adapting to intense heat is not a choice but a necessity. Thousands of people – up to 440 per day – lost their lives prematurely during the record-breaking May and June heatwaves in England and Wales.

With maximum temperatures reaching 36.7°C, schools have been closed, transport networks have been disrupted and more than 20 people have died from cold-water shock while trying to cool off in rivers, lakes and seas.

Heatwaves hotter than 45°C could be possible in the 2050s. But in the face of extreme heat, the UK’s lack of preparedness is glaring. Our ongoing research looks into how workplaces, buildings and community spaces can be better equipped.

Working under heat stress leads to mental fatigue, impaired decision-making, physical exhaustion, heat stroke and collapse. People who work outdoors (in construction or farming, for example) or those who must travel to and for work are particularly affected.

Studies show that productivity declines at around 20°C and progressively decreases as temperatures rise. Hospital admissions also increase during heatwaves.

Yet, the UK does not have a legally mandated maximum temperature. For workplaces, employers are legally required to keep indoor workplaces at a “reasonable” and comfortable temperature.

In Belgium, workplace heat thresholds are explicit. It’s 29°C for office work, 26°C for moderate work (such as shelf stacking), 22°C for heavy work (such as warehousing, construction) and 18°C for very heavy work (such as manual roadwork). When these temperatures are exceeded, Belgian employers must take measures such as........

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