Why You Should Go Beyond “Water, Rest and Shade”

These are the Dog Days of Summer for North America and your entire paving crew can tell you why. To keep workers healthy, you must track their heat exposure. Because there are more dangers than heat exhaustion and heat stroke lurking out there under the sun.

Of course, preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke is step one. You want to follow the tried and true mantra of providing water, rest and shade for workers who are exposed to high temperatures. But keep an eye on workers when they finish a grueling shift. Exposure to high temperatures can leave workers susceptible to other injuries and illnesses.

Heat creates risk. It affects kidney function and the ability to recognize and react to hazards. There is evidence of a connection between extreme heat and mental health stress. Hidden heat-related costs, such as the financial hit of reduced hours during dangerously hot periods or medical expenses brought on by heat-related injuries, bring new stressors to workers’ lives.

What are some of the ways your safety team has gotten creative in providing water, rest and shade for your paving crews this summer? What are some of the ways your safety team has explored for going beyond this mantra? This is an important conversation to have at this week’s tailgate talk and to expand online.

Do you have a safety director who needs to receive this week’s tip? Feel free to send it to him or her!

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