Staying Cool at Construction Sites

We have officially crossed into summer and as kids finish up their school year so too will the heat be turned up across the province after our relatively warm spring. With this in mind we once again would like to discuss how to avoid heat related illnesses.

Obviously owners of construction companies are very concerned about worker safety, and making sure they are able to handle conditions, whether extreme cold or heat, is an important solution to avoiding workers having to take sick days due to heat stroke or issues with extreme cold.

Here are a few points to keep in mind from Construction Connect:

Hydration, as one works in the heat we lose a lot of water through perspiration and one of the easiest ways to avoid dehydration is to have drinking water on hand.  You can also supplement that with electrolytes found in some juices, coconut milk or sports drinks when needed.

Dressing for the climate, loose fitting light colour clothing which either breaths, like cotton, or other moisture wicking clothes help to keep perspiration off and help to cool off quicker.Start early, with air temperatures usually at their highest between 3:00pm and 6:00pm.  It is important to do as much work as possible before the hottest part of the day.

Sunscreen should be generously and consistently reapplied throughout the day to ward off the effects of sun exposure.

For further tips please click here.