Keeping Cool on Site: Why Smart Welfare Matters in a UK Heatwave

Construction doesn’t stop for the sun but, your workforce needs to.

With UK summers seemingly getting hotter, the pressure is on to keep your teams protected, productive and hydrated.

And while PPE and planning matter, your onsite welfare setup is your frontline defence.

Here’s why investing in proper summer welfare is about more than just ticking the HSE box.

The Hidden Dangers of Heat on Site

It’s not just sunburn and sweaty brows. Heat affects focus, safety and equipment. Key risks include:

• Heat stress and heatstroke – especially dangerous for manual workers in PPE
• Dehydration and fatigue – lowering productivity and increasing accident risk
• Reduced visibility from glare – especially near plant and vehicles
• Overheating equipment – costly downtime no-one needs in peak season

Without proper facilities, the risks climb… and so do the costs.

What Does Good Summer Welfare Look Like?

Let’s keep it simple. Your site needs shaded space to rest, cold water to drink, plus clean, ventilated facilities to stay compliant and keep morale up.

At Welfare 4 Hire, our mobile units are purpose-built for exactly this. Options include:

• 6 Person Units – compact, quick to set up (30 seconds!), ideal for smaller crews
• 10 & 12 Person Units – with full canteen space, USB charging, drying rooms and EcoSmart hybrid power
• 16 Person Units with Office – when your site needs serious space for breaks, briefings or site manager office space
• 1+1 and 2+2 Mobile Toilets – a cost-effective way to boost facilities across large sites Storage Units – great for securely stashing hydration kits, PPE or summer-ready consumables

And if you need more toilets or breakout space? Add more toilet units to spread coverage across the site… boosting comfort, not just compliance.

Top Tips for Summer Site Safety

Smart site managers know it’s not just what you hire… it’s how you use it. Here’s what we suggest:

• Break up shifts, during the hottest hours of the day
• Encourage regular water breaks, keep coolers topped up in welfare areas. Maybe add take advantage of our unique VAPs range and order a pack of water with your next hire
• Provide shaded rest spaces, with proper seating
• Don’t skip the canteen, a 10-minute sit-down in a cool cabin can prevent an incident
• Keep things clean and dry, especially where sweat and sun meet steel-toe boots

Need more ideas? We can help you build a ‘Summer Site Setup’ tailored to your crew.

We’ve Got You Covered – Nationwide

From Glasgow to Gloucester, and everywhere in between, we’ve got depots covering the UK. Every Welfare 4 Hire unit is fully HSE compliant regularly serviced, and ready to roll at short notice.

Whether it’s a short-term project or a long-haul job through summer, we’ll get you the right kit… fast, hassle-free and backed by a team who understands site life.

Let’s Get You Summer-Ready

Call us today on 0333 433 0224 to speak to one of our experts. Or browse our full product range online.

No jargon. No faff. Just smarter welfare for hotter days.

South East Depot: 0333 433 0224
Midlands Depot: 0121 272 7766
North West Depot: 0161 507 3700
South West Depot: 01452 689 500
North East Depot: 0191 486 2576

Email us on: hire@welfare4hire.co.uk

Or submit an enquiry through our enquiry bot or form on our homepage.