According to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 2014 was the hottest year on record - and nine of the ten hottest years have happened since 2000. That means danger for the workers raking asphalt, sweating pipe and performing hundreds of other construction tasks in the heat and humidity. According to OSHA, 30 workers die from heat stroke in an average year -- and not just in the sunbelt. 

 

How can you protect yourself and your team?

• Wear light clothing, and include a shirt that serves as a shield from the sun's rays.
• Drink water every 15 minutes. Don't wait until you feel thirsty.
• Plan the day to tackle tougher jobs during the cooler morning hours.
• Rest in shaded areas or air conditioning, if possible.
• Watch your colleagues for signs of heat illness -- especially heat stroke!

Fortunately, there are products designed to counter heat exhaustion for those in the trades doing strenuous work outdoors or in hot, enclosed spaces - and CPWR can help you locate them. Our  Construction Solutions database offers safety professionals a place to find commercially available solutions to common construction hazards. Please mark your calendars and join us July 22 for a short webinar, where we'll demonstrate how easy it is to use Construction Solutions to find information on "Cooling Clothing and PPE."

 

Keep cool and be safe!