After spending the past 5 months of the year
complaining about the usual rainy British weather, mother nature seems to have repaid
us in immense (and extremely uncomfortable!) proportions.
Whilst most of us can seek shelter inside an
air-conditioned office, the UK’s construction force often miss out on the same
luxuries and are therefore at a high risk for heat-related illnesses.
Prolonged exposure to the heat as well as the strenuous
nature of the jobs puts you on a high likelihood of becoming unwell – so it is
essential that sites are proactive in keeping themselves and others safe in the
summer months.
Here are FastTrack’s 5 top tips on how to avoid heat
related illnesses in the summer months!
Drink
up!
We all know we should be drinking a minimum of 2litres
of water a day but during these hot summer months, this should increase to
nearly 3litres! A great way to keep check is to try having a quick drink every
15-20 minutes, or get your hands on one of these water bottles to help you keep
track of how much water you’ve drank throughout the day!
Handy tip!
We know cups of tea and coffee may not be on the top
of your list on a hot summer’s day (they’re certainly not on ours!) but if you
find yourself reaching for the kettle regardless – try to restrict the amount
of caffeinated drinks you knock back in the heat. They contain diuretics which can make you even
more dehydrated!
Dress appropriately!
It
may sound obvious but with H&S regulations interfering with our desire to
work topless and in shorts, it can be tricky to choose the gear that will
protect you and keep you cool. When
stocking up on your site gear, aim for lightweight and light-colored clothing
to help you stay cool and if possible, find clothing and protective gear with
moisture wicking properties!
Don’t
forget some shades if the sun is reflecting into your eyes and sunscreen for
any exposed areas!
Give the new guy some leeway!
According
to OSHA, workers who are new on site are more likely to struggle with the heat!
They claim,
“Workers new to outdoor jobs are generally
most at risk for heat-related illnesses. Cal/OSHA investigated 25 incidents of
heat-related illness in 2005. In almost half of the cases, the worker involved
was on their first day of work and in 80% of the cases the worker involved had
only been on the job for four or fewer days.” (This
guidance is available online at http://osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/.)
It’s
therefore key to allow new workers to ‘acclimatize’ to hot temperatures when
working on site. A good way to manage
this is to start doing about 50% of your normal workload and gradually work up
to 100% over the next week! It may not seem great for the work-load but it will
benefit the team if there are no members off sick with heat-stroke!
Take a break!
It’s
simple. If you’re not feeling great, have a break!
Whether
it’s under a tree, inside an air con’d car or maybe even inside the portaloo(!),
taking 5 minutes to sit in the shade and cool down can stop the heat making you
ill! Again, a couple of minutes away from the job won’t have a huge effect on
the time it takes to complete a project, but coming down ill and needing days
off may!
Finally, know what to do!
Keep
an eye on one another, and be alert for signs of heat exhaustion! Early
symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, stumbling, dropping tools, slurred
speech or unresponsiveness – all of which are extremely dangerous on a construction
site!
If
you suspect that somebody (or that you!) are suffering from a heat related
illness, get them in the shade, remove any unnecessary clothing and ensure they
are drinking plenty of water. You can
also put some cool, damp towels/clothing on the back of their neck and
wrists/ankles to help reduce their body temperature. If this fails, don’t feel shy about calling
the emergency services – heat illnesses can be extremely serious so better to
be safe than sorry!
Look
after yourselves and eachother, stay healthy and ensure the efficient running
of your site!
