During the summer, construction sites across the country face a similar battle against the extreme heat. Sites often see a drastic temperature rise from June to August, accompanied by increased heat-related illness or injury cases. According to OSHA, thousands of workers are injured, and dozens die on construction sites every year as a result of hot or humid conditions. Not surprisingly, 75% of these fatalities occur during the summer months. Although OSHA does not have an official standard for working in conditions that could lead to a heat-related illness, they promote an extensive campaign against heat illnesses that outlines the guidelines, precautions, and hazards anyone on a job site should consider when working in intense temperatures. Keeping a job safe from heat-related illness is a collaborative effort between leadership, workers, and safety specialists. Combined efforts across all project staff to promote education, acclimatization, communication, and engineering controls can ensure that the risks of heat-related illnesses are mitigated on a job site.
Understanding HRIs
Understanding the signs and risks associated with developing a heat-related illness (HRI) is vital to a safe and smooth operating site. Heat stress begins when the body’s internal temperature rises 1.8 degrees above average body temperature; once the body’s net heat load increases, the body becomes susceptible to various HRIs. The most common being heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat rash, which can develop into more severe illnesses like heat stroke or rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown). Heat-related illnesses have the potential to damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles and bring severe risks ranging from seizures and unconsciousness to death.
Once a person begins to experience extreme fatigue, thirst, elevated heart rate, or heavy sweating, the proper precautions must be taken immediately to keep symptoms from developing further. Quickly moving the affected person into a colder area, evaluating symptoms, taking steps to cool down the body, and providing medical attention, if necessary, prevent severe injury and fatality on site. The construction industry encourages all field personnel in leadership positions to be trained in First Aid, CPR, and AED operations, guaranteeing the proper medical response during a heat-related medical emergency.
Acclimatization
Acclimatization, the body’s natural defense against HRIs, is a cornerstone of heat safety. It is built through gradual exposure to hot conditions, limiting the risk of dehydration, maintaining core body temperature more efficiently, and reducing strain on the heart. Scheduling workers to increase their heat exposure in increments is the best way to promote acclimatization and protect workers from extreme temperatures. Acclimatization should occur slowly over 7-14 days for new workers and 2-3 days for workers returning after a week or more away from heat-stress conditions. Promoting a work schedule that encourages acclimatization is the best way to help workers adapt to extreme temperatures, making them prepared for and resilient against sweltering weather conditions.
Education
Providing comprehensive education on heat-related illnesses is a powerful tool in the fight against HRIs. Ensuring that everyone on a job site knows the risks and signs of an HRI not only aids in preventing significant heat-related injuries but also empowers everyone to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of their colleagues. Methods of education can range from all-site meetings and toolbox talks about heat safety to hanging signs around the site detailing the conditions that pose a threat and ways to protect from HRIs. OSHA promotes charts demonstrating signs of dehydration and posters explaining preventative actions against HRIs, which they recommend are hung by the entrance of every job site that works in hot conditions.
Monitor and Communicate
Effective communication is key to keeping everyone on the job safe. Monitoring weather conditions such as humidity and heat index are crucial to managing potential risks. OSHA recommends that anyone working outdoors use the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety tool to monitor the heat index and potential temperature-related safety concerns. When the heat index reaches 95 degrees or higher the risk of HRIs becomes substantial, classifying the workday as an “action day.” Flying a black flag over a job site on an action day quickly warns workers of hot weather, allowing them to take the proper precautions to protect themselves and their coworkers. These precautions include taking a 10-minute break after every 20 minutes of work and drinking at least 8oz of water every 20 minutes.
Superintendents and supervisors are responsible for communicating proper protocol and conditions to workers on all sites. Leadership’s combined effort to make site staff aware of risks and adequate practices keeps everyone on the job safe. An open line of communication between job site teams ensures that everyone is informed and connected regarding heat safety practices, contributing to a safer work environment.
Implementing Heat Illness Prevention on a Job Site
Site leadership plays a crucial role in implementing heat illness prevention on a job site. They are tasked with providing the proper resources and engineering controls to keep all site personnel safe in high-risk temperatures. This includes providing a shaded and air-conditioned area on-site and encouraging workers to take a break and cool down. By adding tents, umbrellas, or temporary structures to job sites, workers can limit their exposure to potentially harmful temperatures. Cooling stations with shade, water, ice, and fans are among the best ways to aid and encourage workers to protect themselves from feverish temperatures. These safeguards work to prevent HRIs and provide immediate relief to those experiencing symptoms.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can add extra insulation during the summer months, making it difficult for the body to cool down. To ensure comfort and ease, OSHA encourages site staff to remove PPE and use cooling methods like air conditioning or ice packs during breaks when in a safe location. Additionally, OSHA suggests light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, which is best at releasing heat and keeping the body cool during a workday.
When used in tandem, engineering controls and weather-appropriate PPE encourage everyone on a site to protect their health and safety. Prioritizing “water, rest, and shade” for all persons and promoting the safe use of PPE ensures that site personnel do not become dehydrated or overheat, preventing the development of HRIs.
The Importance of Heat Safety
OSHA and many governing health bodies recommend creating a heat illness prevention plan that outlines proper education, first aid, acclimatization, communication, engineering control practices, and individual responsibilities to prevent HRIs. Planning and preparing for extreme heat aids and quickly implementing best practices could save a job site from facing an HRI emergency.
The most important consideration on a job site is the safety of every person working on it. Their health and well-being should always be the top priority, and by working collaboratively to promote safety in extreme heat, it can be guaranteed that they face as few risks as possible.
