Safety Tips for Protecting Outdoor Workers in Summer

Introduction:

During the summer, you can enjoy the great outdoors, but it also carries some serious health risks, particularly for those who work outdoors. There can be serious consequences associated with high temperatures and humidities, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat stress.

8 Essential Safety Tips:

To help protect your outdoor workers and keep them safe this summer, here are some essential safety tips to keep in mind:

Be aware of the heat index and take extra precautions when necessary.

Plan heavy work during cooler times of the day.

Gradually acclimatize workers to the outdoor heat.

Ensure adequate water supply and encourage workers to stay hydrated.

Take frequent breaks to cool down in the shade.

Encourage light-coloured and lightweight clothing, hats, and sunglasses.

Use sunscreen and re-apply every two hours.

Train workers on heat illness and emergency response.

In the heat index, humidity and actual air temperature are combined to determine how hot it feels. To protect workers from the heat index, reduce physical exertion or increase rest breaks when it’s high.

Heat-related illnesses can be reduced by scheduling work in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler.

To adjust their bodies to hot weather, new workers or those not used to work outside in the heat should gradually expose themselves to it over several days.

Dehydration is one of the major causes of heat-related illnesses, so workers should ensure they have access to cool drinking water and drink fluids regularly.

Ideally, workers should take a break every half to an hour or so to cool down in a shaded area, ideally with the assistance of a fan or a misting device to promote cooling.

Wearing light-coloured clothing and using lightweight fabrics can help keep workers cool and keep sweat away from their bodies. Sunglasses and hats can also help protect workers from direct sunlight.

Sunburn can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, so it’s important to apply sunscreen of at least every two hours. SPF 30 sunscreens that are water-resistant for 80 minutes are recommended for workers. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside on all exposed skin.

Workers should be trained on the signs and symptoms of heat illness, as well as emergency response procedures in case of a heat-related emergency. A person suffering from heatstroke should be sponged with cold water, misted with cool water, placed ice packs on their body, and covered with cool damp sheets.

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Conclusion:

By following these safety tips, you can help protect your outdoor workers from the dangers of summer heat and ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy on the job.