April 25, 2016 / By Groupa Concrete
It’s that time of year again. T-shirts, summer dresses and shorts come out of long forgotten drawers in the dresser along with flip-flops and sandals. Dress codes change as do the winter days into spring. In some jobs such as construction work, certain safety measures need to be taken and some things like being in the sun cannot be avoided. This does not mean however that one cannot stay cool during this time of year. In this blog, we’ll take a look at tips for staying cool while on the job.
The most basic of rules to follow is of course to make sure you drink lots of water. It is advised that one should drink two to four cups of water every hour while on a job site to keep oneself hydrated. If you are a supervisor make sure to remind your workers of this as well. If possible, avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages, as caffeine will dehydrate you faster. Smoking will also add to this.
When on site, make sure to know where there is a shady spot if available. This could become crucial should a coworker fall victim to a heat stroke. It is also a good idea to be aware of the symptoms of heat illness, which can advance to heat stroke. Symptoms include dry and hot skin with no sweating, mental confusion, loss of consciousness, convulsions and seizures. If you notice yourself or a fellow worker with these symptoms bring them into the shade or a cool area. Remove work boots if possible and have them lie down with their feet elevated in order to allow for easier blood flow to the brain. If unconsciousness occurs, call 911 immediately.
Sunscreen is also an important component of keeping cool, make sure to wear and reapply it regularly in order to avoid burns. In the morning and during ones lunch break are ideal times. Take your breaks and lunches in a shady or air conditioned area. Small snacks high in potassium such as bananas, almonds, apricots and yogurt are a good way to stay high energy all day.
In addition to these, there are also products designed for helping to keep cool such as hardhat fans, hardhat liner sweatbands, hardhat brims and a host of other items which can be found at a variety of retail stores.