Ah, summer. The kids are out of school, block parties spread from neighborhood to neighborhood, the beaches are full of happy vacationers and grills across America light up the appetites of all. Summer is just one of those seasons universally loved. While many view summer as season of fun, America’s construction workers are up against a season of difficulty. Summer can be one of the most dangerous for our nation’s construction workers because of that big, yellow glowing summer sun. Construction crews are constantly working in high heat, and with temperatures reaching new levels across the country, it’s important to stay as cool as possible while working outside. But don’t worry! As always, we at Strong Man have your back and we’re going to give you some tips on how to stay cool in the heat.
- Wear Sunscreen. It should go without saying, but sunscreen should be the very first thing you do once getting to the job site. Take a few minutes and make sure all exposed skin is covered. We’re not talking about SPF 10 either. Make sure your sunscreen is at least SPF 30 if you’re going to be outside for eight plus hours. Also, one application isn’t enough – make sure you’re reapplying every two hours and often if you’re sweating constantly.
- Drink Water and Lots of It. This tip seems obvious as well, but do you know how much water you should be drinking when you’re working outside all day? OSHA states that when it comes to your team’s water consumption, that “They should drink about 4 cups of water every hour while the heat index is 103 to 115°F.” That adds up to two gallons of water per construction worker per shift! Keeping water in your system helps prevent getting overheated, which can lead to more dangerous events, such as a heat stroke.
- Use Construction Tarps. Good construction tarps not only protect materials, but they also help protect your most important assets: your crew. Using construction tarps around the job site helps to create shaded areas for teams to work under. Keeping your crews out of direct sunlight helps them feel between 10 to 15 degrees cooler since they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight and radiation. Strong Man has a variety of tarps that will do the trick, but we recommend our Super FR Tarp. Designed to withstand high winds and whatever else Mother Nature throws at you, the Super FR Tarp will keep your job site on track and on budget.
- Take Breaks. Taking breaks on the job site is crucial during the dog days of summer. The heat of summer wears down even the strongest and toughest worker, which can be dangerous to both the worker and the rest of the crew. During the break period, instructs crew members to reapply their sunscreen and load up on water.
- Bonus Tip: Look Into Cooling Towels. Cooling towels are relatively new, but they’re used by some of the world’s most prominent athletes so they don’t overheat. Mission, a company that specializes in cooling towels, is one of the more notable brands. According to their website, their Mission towel “Cools instantly to 30 degrees below average body temperature and stays cool for up to 2 hours when wet.” These towels could potentially help you and your crew while working under the sun by keeping everyone cool as they work. It couldn’t hurt to give them a try!
Summer doesn’t have to be a bummer for those working on job sites. It just takes the right preparation and a willingness to be proactive to stay safe under hot working conditions. If you need help keeping your job site cooler and safer overall, Strong Man is always here to help. We have a wide variety of products that keep your crew safer, and if you don’t know where to start, just contact us. We know a thing or two about working out in the heat – our entire sales staff has held jobs in either the construction supply or scaffold industry, giving us a comprehensive understanding of the complications that contractors and distributors face daily. We want to keep you safe, no matter what. So stay cool and stay safe with Strong Man!