Managing Summers!

As the summer months roll in, the rising temperature will pose an undue disadvantage to the construction projects. Excessively high temperatures on the construction site can be a serious health hazard to the construction staff.

Dehydration and Heat stress are a common cause of injuries and fatalities on site, but these are perhaps the most easily avoidable.

To keep your talent safe and productive, employers must educate employees and supervisors alike about the potential dangers of heat stress and heat stroke.

Managing the Heat Risk

Heat stress is caused when the body is unable to regulate itself by sweating and the core body temperature rises to critical levels. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body is not able to lose enough heat generated by physical work and external heat sources. It is a medical emergency that can lead to cramps, exhaustion, stroke and in severe cases, death. The good news is that heat illness and deaths are preventable. A key component of prevention is to provide mandatory breaks, or recovery periods, for employees working when temperatures are high.

Simple tips and tools for countering the Aussie heat can help construction teams safely manage staff.

1. Hydration

Ensure that staff members drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated helps the body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature.

2. Work Shift Timings

Consider allotting work shifts when it’s cooler. Schedule shifts when the sun is less intense and temperatures are cooler whenever possible.

3. Mandatory Breaks

Downtime in the summer allows workers to cool down in a shaded area. Follow the break and rest period guidance as Heat Index levels rise.

4. Dress Smart

Wearing excess clothing or tight-fitting clothing won’t allow your body to regulate itself. Loose, breathable cotton is best for keeping cool during work summer months. However, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must still be used.

5. Protect Against the Sun

When outdoors, provide the workers with wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

6. Be Prepared

Stay updated on workplace training and encourage workers to participate in wellness programs that bolster fitness. An active lifestyle helps individuals tolerate heat and sun better.

What To Do In An Emergency

If you suspect an employee has suffered heat stroke or stress, move the worker to a cool, ventilated area, and with legs elevated. Be sure to check the pace of breath. Try to lower the body temperature with the use of cold compresses and fan. Water and electrolytes can be offered to the worker to normalize vital signs. Monitor vital signs regularly and call for emergency assistance as necessary.

Even the most well-designed workplace Safety programs ultimately will be ineffective without employee participation. In fact, a study revealed that employers with high levels of employee engagement had 70 percent fewer safety incidents than those with lower levels of engagement.

The same holds true for heat-related illness. Workers must be trained to understand symptoms as it is often co-workers that are the first to recognize an employee is suffering from heat-related illness. Communication and training are key to minimizing the risk and occurrence of heat related illnesses. As we move into the summer months, it is important for employees and their supervisors to discuss this with teams and manage workers accordingly. That includes training when onboarding new workers.

Safety on the job is not static. There’s always room for improvement, so brainstorm with your team about ways to promote a higher level of safety awareness for all, whether that’s the frontline workers or the professionals in the front office.

Spot rewards for employees who follow your guidelines to stay safe and cool during the summer months. It is a great way to encourage worker safety. By putting an emphasis on safety instead of only productivity, you’re rewarding the method of achievement rather than the result, this adds to productivity and profits much more in the long run.
It all starts with you. If management enforces safety regulations and stands behind staff 100 percent, workers will take the cue that they need to put safety first – even in the face of increased production. Your employees will support you if you practice what you preach.

Some Effective Gear and Tools For Your Team

1. Water Bottles and Hydration Packs

If possible, provide the workers with refillable water bottles or hydration packs. When water is readily available, they are more likely to hydrate themselves in a timely manner. This will also reduce the time taken for breaks. Hydration packs can be a great advantage if the team is working in an inaccessible area as both hands are free, and they also come with safety strips.

2. Cooling Vests

Heat can be especially debilitating if the work is specialised and requires a lot of Personal Protective Equipment. Imagine the summer heat bearing down when the workers are in a Hazmat suit! Provide the team with breathable kinds of cotton, along with cooling vests/shirts.

While cooling shirts have a capillary tubing system that circulates cool water within the fabric, a cooling vest will have pouches where ice packs or cooled gel packs can be placed as required.

Click here to know more about Cooling Vests »

3. Head and Neck Protection

When working out in the sun, it is essential to cover your head and neck, as this is where most of the dehydration will escape. Consider simple products like cooling beanies, this simple and light accessory can exponentially help you from dehydration when standing on site in the Aussie sun! You can also consider smaller attachments like a hard hat skull cap or cooling liner, which are made in breathable cotton, and protect from the heat. A simple hard hat brim attachment can also do the trick.

For the neck, safety teams must consider investing in the neck shade attachment for hard hats. By avoiding the direct sun on the neck, the worker can be easily protected from the harshness of the noon sun in summer!

Click here to know more about cooling neck shade »

If working in a closed and high temperature environment, consider providing cooling neck ties. These are simple and effective in keeping the body cool. If soaked in water for a few minutes, the cooling neck ties can provide relief for 20-30 minutes.

Click here to know more about cooling neck tie »

4. Gloves

If working with heavy machinery like chainsaws, drills, etc, the safety regulations state a mandatory use of anti vibration gloves to avoid injuries. For teams that specialise in these works, ultralight and cut-off gloves may be a good choice to avoid heat related stress. These are made in breathable materials and are ideal for the summer months.

Click here to know more about anti vibration gloves »

5. Safety Glasses

If the work permits, you can consider investing in shaded safety glasses, these will act like sunglasses and protect eyes from the direct glare of the sun.

Click here to know more about safety glasses »

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