Try These Cheats To Beat the Heat: How to Avoid the Dangers of Working in Extreme Heat

heat exhaustion safety

Working outside in the summer is great for people working on a tan, but working in extreme heat can be quite dangerous if you do not take the right precautions. Summer temperatures nearing triple digits coupled with long hours of physical activity give workers on construction sites a heightened risk of suffering heat related illnesses (HRI). To keep a cool head and keep the people on your jobsite safe , it is important to know the signs of HRI, how to treat HRI and how to prevent HRI when working in extreme heat

IDENTIFYING HEAT RELATED ILLNESS

Treating and preventing HRI start with knowing the warning signs that you or a coworker may be overheating. The symptoms can be counterintuitive—even when working in the extreme heat, one of the signs of heat exhaustion can be cold, pale and clammy skin.  Other signs of heat exhaustion are:

  • Heavy sweating
  • Fast, weak pulse
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Muscle cramps
  • Dizziness
  • Headache

Being able to identify the signs early can be the difference between relief and risking heat stroke.

TREATING HEAT RELATED ILLNESS

Once you have identified that someone has signs of heat exhaustion, how can you help them cool down? Use these tips:

  • Stop working and get to a cool place—Find shade or the nearest building with air conditioning if possible.
  • Loosen clothing—Tight clothing can restrict air flow and trap hot moisture against the skin.
  • Start hydrating—If nauseous, slowly sip water. Otherwise drink water or a sports drink to cool down and replace the fluids and minerals lost from sweating.
  • Seek medical attention—If you or another person is throwing up, cramping for longer than one hour or symptoms are getting worse, call 911 and get medical help to prevent heat stroke.
PREVENTING HEATH RELATED ILLNESS

Knowing how to identify and treat HRI is important, but ideally, HRI can be prevented by preparing ahead of time. If you know you will be working outside in extreme heat, use these tips to prepare yourself:

  • Hydrate early—Waiting until the day you have to work in the heat to start drinking fluids is too late. Start drinking more water a day or two ahead of time to help your body regulate its body temperature better and prevent muscle cramps.
  • Schedule Breaks—Taking breaks can seem like a nuisance when you are trying to complete a project on time, but it can make your workforce more effective and efficient. Encourage workers to take breaks to cool off and hydrate, consider adding extra workers to the crew to ease the workload and make sure workers never continue working when they feel symptoms of HRI.
  • Apply sunscreen—In addition to being painful, sunburns make it easier to get overheated and dehydrated. Waiting until you feel symptoms is too late to address a sunburn, as the symptoms are not immediately apparent and can take four hours to appear. Instead, apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 (or higher) 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours throughout the day, especially on vulnerable areas like the ears, nose and neck.

Working in extreme heat may be necessary, but it does not have to be dangerous if you take the right precautions. If you have questions about procedures products that can help you beat the heat, contact us to get in touch with one of our safety experts.

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ARTICLE BY:

DOUG ROPP
EMPLOYEE-OWNER, SALES MANAGER