Specific regulations for a climate risk that has become structural
Until now, the management of hot weather was mainly based on recommendations from the administration or INRS. The Decree of 27 May 2025 now includes this risk in the Labor Code with a reinforced requirement for prevention, in particular for the most exposed sectors such as construction, logistics or agriculture.
This new regulation requires employers to assess the heat risk in their Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document (DUERP). In the event of non-compliance, the labour inspectorate may issue a formal notice.
The link between weather vigilance and mandatory measures
The major novelty lies in the official recognition of the levels of meteorological vigilance (green, yellow, orange, red) established by France weather. Starting from Yellow level, the heat episode is considered intense in the regulatory sense. This triggers the obligation to implement specific concrete measures to protect the health and safety of employees.
Concrete preventive measures to adopt
Here are the measures that companies must put in place as soon as the level of vigilance reaches the Météo France threshold:
• Adaptation of work organization to limit the duration and intensity of exposure (e.g.: favor cool hours such as 6:00-13:00).
• Increase, as much as possible, of fresh drinking water available to workers. If there is no access to running water, the employer must provide at least 3 liters of fresh, drinkable water per employee and per day.
• Organization of regular breaks in cool, shaded or air-conditioned areas.
• Provide suitable equipment: headgear, breathable and/or clear clothing, sun protection, foggers, thermal insulation, sun visors, etc. However, PPE specific to certain activities such as the prime helmet cannot be removed during episodes of hot weather. The employer must take this constraint into account for the employees concerned.
• Reduction of physical tasks during hot hours.
For construction companies, specific measures have been taken. Indeed, this sector of activity benefits from compensation for work stoppages during periods of heatwave, i.e. the orange and red vigilance periods indicated by Météo France. Check the up to date weather here.
Integration into the DUERP: an essential step
La prevention of risks associated with hot weather now involves a formal analysis in the DUERP. This document is becoming the reference tool for anticipating and managing episodes of intense heat that can impact the health of employees.
Concretely, businesses must integrate the risk of heat into their DU. And identify work situations likely to affect the health and safety of workers, assess potential impacts and define corrective and preventive measures adapted.
• For businesses of 50 employees and more, these measures must be integrated into annual program for the prevention of occupational risks and the improvement of working conditions (PAPRIPACT).
• For smaller structures, actions should appear directly in the DUERP, with rigorous and up-to-date monitoring.
It is also imperative toadapt preventive measures to the most vulnerable workers, such as young people under 18, pregnant women, or people suffering from chronic pathologies. These adjustments are essential to ensure a genuine protection of the health and safety of employees, in accordance with the obligations reinforced by the regulations on hot weather.
Training, information, right to withdraw: strengthened rights
La prevention of risks associated with heatwaves cannot be effective without a clear policy ofinformation and training for employees. The employer must ensure that each worker is aware of the dangers associated with heat (dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue, etc.), as well as the right reflexes to adopt in case of discomfort or a weather alert.
This mandatory information can take several forms: posting in the areas concerned or in legible locations so that exposed employees can access them, daily alert emails, or daily briefing before taking up a job. Of teaching materials are also available on the INRS website to help employers communicate effectively on preventive measures.
Finally, the right of withdrawal is recalled and strengthened in this new regulatory framework: any employee can interrupt his activity if he considers that his work environment presents a serious and imminent danger to his health, or for his life.
Good management of Heat waves and episodes of intense heat in companies, via tools like the DUERP, makes it possible to avoid these situations and to secure both employees and the activity.
An opportunity to strengthen your prevention culture
In addition to its regulatory aspect, this also a strategic opportunity to strengthen the prevention culture within the organization, through better forecasting of climate risks and concrete consideration of the challenges of the world of work, linked to protection of the health and safety of employees.
The update of single document becomes a lever for dialogue between the different strata of companies: QHSE, HR and operational. It makes it possible to identify the most exposed positions, to assess the impacts of hot weather On employees, and to build adapted action plans. This analysis contributes to a more proactive management of critical situations, and promotes a climate of trust with teams, who feel considered, and therefore better protected.
In addition, these new obligations can be an opportunity to setting up or strengthening risk prevention systems transversal: heatwave plan, emergency protocols, partnerships with occupational health services, programs to raise awareness about the effects of heat... So many initiatives that contribute to building a resilient organization, capable of adapting to challenges. Climatic. All while ensuring business continuity, viability and sustainability of the company.
In short, these new rules are much more than just compliance: they mark a sustainable evolution of preventive practices, by placing the human and the employee safety at the heart of decisions.
