Keep your Cool: Have Heat Awareness this Summer

The sun in blue sky where heat awareness is needed for compliance.

We are well and truly into the summer months. With this in mind, it is important to adapt to our environment and avoid any dangers related to extreme temperatures. Heat stress and dehydration can cause more than just discomfort; it can pose serious risk to health and safety. Here are 5 essential tips for working in heat.

Tip 1: Recognize signs of heat stress

It is important to know the warning signs of heat stress. These include:

    • Excessive sweating
    • Dizziness, confusion, or headaches
    • Fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
    • Rapid breathing
    • Muscle cramps

If you experience any of these symptoms, the first port of call is to move to a cooler place, drink fluids, and taking a few minutes to re-compose yourself. If you are a team leader, you may consider organizing a Toolbox Talk to inform your team on the signs of heat stress.

Tip 2: Stay hydrated

A key factor in preventing heat stress is maintaining hydration. Drinking water regularly first thing in the morning, even if you are not thirsty, is a great tactic to ensure you are adequately hydrated.

Caffeine and alcohol can be avoided if possible as these are contributors to dehydration. Alternatives to water include electrolyte-rich or sports drinks.

Tip 3: Identify and utilize the shade

Wherever you are working it is important to identify shaded areas that, if you find yourself with a couple of minutes to take a break, can be used to allow you to be in a cooler area. These can be identified by conducting a Health and Safety audit of the work location. Take the time to cool off throughout the day. If no shaded area is available, bringing a towel to cool yourself can bring down your body temperature, reducing the likelihood of heat-related stress.

Tip 4: Pay attention to team members

When working in the heat, you’re not only responsible for yourself, but you also need to keep an eye on your teammates! It is essential that everyone gets home from work safely, so if you notice someone showing signs listed in Tip 1, encourage them to take a break and hydrate. If there are extreme temperatures, it may be smart to create a buddy system to hold each other accountable.

Tip 5: Sun protection, sun protection, sun protection

Never underestimate the power of the sun. Wearing high-SPF sunscreen that is applied every 2-3 hours and UV-rated sunglasses can significantly reduce your risk of sunburn, heat exhaustion, and potential long-term skin damage. If possible, opt for lightweight, long-sleeved clothing to shield your skin without overheating.

This summer, work together to stay safe, cool, and productive as the temperatures rise. Remember that the health and well-being of personnel is the primary goal when on-site.

To find out more about how FlexManager can assist you in keeping your workforce safe in extreme weather conditions, reach out to our team in the Contact section on FlexManager.com. 

Authored by Gearoid Noone

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