Hot summer safety tips!

Summer is always one of the busiest times of the year for those involved in the construction industry. While you work hard to make hay while the sun shines, it’s important to ensure you and your staff are aware of the hazards presented by working in hot, sunny conditions    

Summer is a great time for building and landscaping work, but it can present additional health and safety risks. We’ve put together some tips below on what you and your team can do to look after each other while working in warmer weather.

Make sure you know the danger signs to look out for when working in the heat. If you or one of your colleagues overheat, you’ll notice symptoms such as:

• Clammy or sweaty skin.
• Feeling weak or dizzy.
• Darker coloured urine.
• Pounding or rapid pulse.
• Loss of balance / fainting.
• Headaches.
• Muscle cramps.
• Mood changes or confusion.

If heat stress or exhaustion is not dealt with quickly, it can progress to heat stroke. At its worst, this can be life threatening. Be extra careful when doing the type of work listed below, which increase your chances of suffering from heat exhaustion:

• Working in confined spaces.
• Doing underfloor, ceiling or roof work.
• In cabs of mobile plant.
• Enclosed areas with limited air flow.

Slip, slop, slap!

It’s important to always protect yourself from the effects of heat and UV by wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, taking breaks and seeking shade.

The risks of sun exposure may seem obvious, but it’s an easy one to overlook and can be fatal given New Zealand’s high rates of skin cancer.

Even though it’s great to enjoy the sunshine while on site, make sure you and your team follow basic sun-smart rules such as covering up with work clothes made of breathable fabrics, wearing a hat and using a good-quality sunblock.

Safety sunglasses, to protect eyes from flying objects and UV rays are also a good idea. With any sunglasses, always check the impact and UV rating.

Stay hydrated!

Your body overheats when it can’t cool itself through sweat, and sweat requires you to stay hydrated. Anyone building or landscaping in the heat of a summer’s day is at risk of dehydration.

This could be due to working in the direct sun, working near heat-producing processes or simply from the work you are doing (whether indoors or outside).

The effects of working in heat range from mild discomfort through to life-threatening heatstroke. With that in mind, consider:

Planning ahead

Try to avoid or limit prolonged exposure to extreme heat, and work in the shade when possible. Ensure there is adequate airflow or ventilation to help keep the temperature down.

Wear lightweight clothing if it’s safe to do so, but be sure to comply with your company’s clothing regulations.

Keep up the fluids

Most people need about eight glasses of water per day – but if you’re working in the heat, it’s likely you will need more. Make sure you and your crew drink plenty of water throughout the day and also limit the consumption of sugary or caffeinated drinks.

Fatigue

If you’ve been waiting for good weather to get cracking on a job, it can be tempting to push through and extend your working day. However, ignoring the signs of fatigue in yourself and your workers can be a real risk.

Consider:

• Taking regular breaks – with extra breaks if the work is demanding.
• Monitor and place limits around overtime and avoid incentives to work prolonged hours.
• If you need to work longer hours, consider staggered start and finish times and longer breaks and periods off work.
• Use the right tools and resources for the job.
• Consider low-vibration hand-held tools and, where practical, install low-vibration seats in machinery.
• Rotate tasks between workers.
• Keep workloads and deadlines realistic.

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Site Safe is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that promotes, inspires and supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction. For a free guide on preventing fatigue and other useful industry information, check out www.sitesafe.org.nz