It’s official; summer is here, and so far it has been a hot one! So what should you do in order to keep your employees cool this year? You need a plan of course, especially for your employees who work outside of the office environment. Workers who are constantly exposed to the sun should be aware of the possible dangers affiliated with the heat. An open line of communication from you to your workers in the field will be the starting point. They will be depending on you for guidance and safety, so make sure you are aware of their work environment.
Here are 6 things to share with your workers this summer, which are all critical to their health as well as reducing your risks:
Sun Screen & Block
Application
On a daily basis, sunscreen and/or
sun block should be applied, and reapplied as necessary throughout the day.
These lotions will help reduce the amount of damage to the skin, due to it’s
direct exposure to the sun. Remember, SPH 15 and higher is recommended in order
to protect your skin from UVA and UVB damage. The most popular makers of these
lotions are ww.bananaboat.com, www.coppertone.com, and www.neutrogena.com. IDEA: You may furnish small bottles of
sunscreen to your employees, so they can always have a small back-up supply.
Heat Stroke and Exhaustion
Awareness
Knowing the signs of heat
exhaustion or stroke is critical knowledge that your staff should be armed
with. Heat exhaustion can occur if your employee has been doing heavy work in
the heat, accompanied by lack of fluid intake. Signs of heat exhaustion
include: rapid heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing, dizziness /
lightheadedness, confusion or irritability, and nausea. Heat strokes have
similar signs, however, a heat stroke can be deadly. IDEA: Train your
staff about the signs of heat stroke & exhaustion and how to respond to such
emergencies such as these. If all employees cannot be trained, make sure at
least one person on site has the proper training, preferably First Aid &
CPR certified.
Staying Hydrated
It’s imperative that your
employees remain hydrated by taking in plenty of fluids throughout the day. It
is recommended that a person should drink 8 to 10 cups of water a day, but if
your employees would like to mix it up a bit, and add a little flavor to quench
their thirst, they may choose a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade which
provides a healthy amount of electrolytes for their bodies so they may remain
hydrated throughout the course of the day. IDEA: Provide a cooler for
your employees to keep in their vehicles at all times. If not, furnish them
with a coupon to purchase a cooler.
Shade Provisions
You may find it beneficial to
provide your employees with adequate shade near their outdoor workspaces. A
10X10 or 8X8 canopy (www.canopycenter.com or www.dickssportinggoods.com) can be
purchased for less than $200, perfect for the employees who remain stationary
for long periods of time. This will cost a fraction of an emergency room visit.
And whether your company provides vehicles or you require the use of your
employee’s personal vehicle, you can suggest frequent breaks to their vehicles.
This will allow them a place to access some cool air throughout the day.
Heat Advisories
These advisories are normally
issued in the morning on your local news station as well as the national
weather service (www.nws.noaa.gov). So
it’s critical for these warnings your priority is to communicate these warnings
to your staff, because their lives depend on you. IDEA: Up to date
weather can be accessed via cell phone applications, and you may choose to
utilize texts notifications in effort to keep your employees in the know.
Weather Flag System
Depending on your geological
location, you may develop a flag system that informs employees of the weather
conditions along with your companies requirements for working in those
conditions. The military uses a similar system that alerts the troops to the
current weather conditions so they will know when to limit outdoor activities
during those peak hours of high temperatures throughout the day. Here’s an
example of a flag system that you can use:
Green Flag – Calm conditions and safe 70° –
89°
Yellow Flag – Stay alert and safe. Temperatures
range in between 90° – 97°.
Red Flag – Extreme caution with frequent breaks.
Stay alert and hydrated. Temperatures range in between 98° – 102°.
Black Flag – DO NOT WORK! Temperatures exceed
103°.
IDEA: These flags may be disbursed to your staff on the site supervisor vehicle or via text alerts.
Get ready to enjoy a safe summer with your employees by keeping them in the loop. Doing so will reduce your risks as well as furnishing a great and safe working environment for your employees.
Disclaimer: Products mentioned are not being endorsed.
These are merely suggestions offered in effort for you (the reader) to make an
educated decision in regards to providing a safe working environment for your
employees.
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