As the temperatures rise, many maintenance workers spend their days doing their jobs outside. Keeping outdoor workers safe and productive in the hot summer months is crucial by ensuring they are properly outfitted and protected from sun exposure.
Stay informed about the latest trends, products, practices, and guidelines to keep your outdoor employees safe and getting the job done this summer.
Cool clothing
Beating the heat and staying protected means having the tools you need to stay cool. Avoiding direct contact with the sun by wearing gloves, long sleeves, glasses or goggles, and wearing sunscreen is the first step in staying safe and avoiding being burned by the sun. Heat stroke is also a major concern and products have emerged to keep outdoor workers from overheating while spending long periods of time outside.
Cooling vests are a clothing item that can help employees keep their core temperatures at safe levels, using gel-packed cells with a thermal barrier to keep workers cool without direct contact. The vests weigh 6.5 pounds and distribute the weight across the wearer’s body, allowing them to work while helping to protect workers from heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Hats and helmets
Most of our body heat is lost through our heads so it is important to choose PPE that takes this into consideration. If your employees need to wear hard hats, there are versions that can help workers stay cool, with reflective technology similar to a car windshield, keeping the inside of the hard hat cool and comfortable for workers. If hard hats aren’t necessary, invest in lightweight wide-brimmed hats and neck covers to keep the sun off and protect against UV to keep your teams working and safe.
Hydration
Dehydration is a major contributor to heat exhaustion, so staying cool and protected means staying hydrated, too. Encourage workers to drink water before, after, and during work hours for optimal results, and to limit the strain that dehydration can put on the body. When working in the heat, it is recommended that employees drink 8 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes, so you need to stay vigilant to ensure that these guidelines are being met for your staff.
While at work, employees should do their best to stay at optimal body temperatures with the above-mentioned options, but they can also use hydration backpacks, hydrated sleeves, convenient collapsible water bottles, and more. Setting an alarm or using an app to remind employees to drink water can also be effective in keeping them on a schedule to stay hydrated throughout the workday.
Working outside is hot work and can be dangerous for prolonged periods of time in the summer. Keep employees safe, comfortable, and on the job with today’s top tools of the trade.
Photo courtesy of: StaCool Vest
