In the scorching heat, people who work outdoors, with heavy materials and dangerous instruments need to be particularly careful about taking all safety precautions to keep them well, concentrated and unharmed. There are certain measures which need to be taken to protect construction workers when the weather is particularly hot and humid.
Here are the main tips to follow to ensure that the construction workers at your site stay safe and efficient at all times:
Stay Hydrated
Make sure that all workers have water, lemon water or any electrolytic beverages at hand and remind them to drink them every 15-20 minutes, in order to make up for all the water, salt and other essential minerals and elements they lose due to perspiration. Warn your workers to stay away from energy drinks, beer and anything which contains caffeine because they act as diuretics and will actually enhance their dehydration.
Also, it is advisable to cut down on smoking while on the job, because cigarettes make the movement of oxygen through the body even harder when the temperature is 90 degrees or above.
Avoid Heavy & High Calorie Lunch or Snacks
The more calories the construction workers consume, the heavier the load will be on their digestive system and thus on their bodies. Of course, they shouldn’t be starving when they come to work, but ask them to compensate for the lunch with a rich and high calorie breakfast in the hotter days.
Their lunch should be a lighter one, such as: vegetables, fruits or other low calorie snacks. Eating a light lunch will help prevent the usual post-lunch dip which people tend to feel, and will keep your workers alert and safe in the hot summer days.
Organize Work for the Cooler Parts of the Day or Night
In the hottest days, work on the site in the hottest hours should be avoided altogether if you can arrange it. Try to plan for night shifts or pre-dawn or evening shifts, so that your construction workers don’t have to work in the scorching heat. If this isn’t possible, then make sure you supply them with umbrellas, canopies or other sources of shade at the job. If there are AC areas on the site, warn your workers to change from their soaked shirts when entering them.
Protect Your People from the Direct Sunlight
Make sure the people working at your construction site are wearing sun block, wide brimmed hats, long sleeves and pants made of light, breathable and moisture absorbing textiles. The clothing must be light colored so that it reflects the sunlight as much as possible.
Ensure Workers Keep an Eye on One Another During Work
Ask them to work in teams, or if not possible, to make sure they keep an eye on their colleagues working close to them. They should be aware of the signs of heat stress and the first symptoms of heat stroke. Make them look for colleagues who look disoriented, fatigued, lethargic, or who keep dropping instruments, stumble or become unresponsive. If any of these signs are noticed, the safety manager or other authorized personnel need to be contacted and informed immediately.
Know How to Act if Someone Shows Signs of a Heat Stroke
Instruct all people on the construction site to immediately help the person who is visibly suffering from symptoms of heat stroke to a shady or cooler area. The person must lay down with his or her feet elevated above the level of the head to help the blood circulation. Immediate actions need to be taken to cool the person down with water or cold compresses.
The work boots and any other heavy gear need to be taken off. If the worker begins to lose consciousness or shows no sign of improvement, an ambulance needs to be called.
Article by Michael Pierce
Michael is an outdoor and hiking enthusiast, who seeks for the thrill that only nature gives. He and his team run the footwear websites Mybootprint.com and Shoematters.com where they do comprehensive reviews of work shoes and boots.
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