Keeping Your Workers Safe in the Summer Heat

A summer day. It doesn’t have the same threatening demeanor as, say, a buzz saw or a barrel of toxic chemicals. But exposure to heat can cause major health issues: vomiting, cramps, fainting, even death.

Working outside on a summer day seems like an innocuous enough endeavor…even pleasant in many cases. As such, the risk might not be readily apparent. Your workers might not realize the dangers that working in the heat can pose. Or even if they know them in the abstract, they might not understand the full ramifications.

Here are some steps you can take to keep your workers safe when working in the summer heat:

Remind Workers of the Dangers

The first step is to make sure everyone knows the potential health problems associated with heat. Regularly remind employees of the possible symptoms and provide information about how to prevent them.

Provide Plenty of Water

Make sure everyone stays hydrated. Provide water for all employees working in the heat. Also, consider requiring regular mandatory water breaks, where each work is forced to stop and take a drink.

Encourage Proper Clothing

Have dress-code regulations that take the heat into account. Don’t force workers to wear restrictive or multi-layered uniforms when the temperature gets above a certain point.

Ease into Heavier Work

Employees shouldn’t jump right into strenuous work in high temperatures. Instead, they should ease into high-impact labor. Meanwhile, set up a rotation system that allows workers to alternate difficult jobs with less rigorous activity.

Plan for Frequent Breaks

Beyond cycling through the most sweat-inducing chores, workers should be given frequent chances to rest. Build additional breaks into the work plan on hot days. Ideally, you would have an air-conditioned area, or at least someplace shaded, where workers could retire for a quick cool down.

Coworkers Should Monitor Each Other

No one wants to admit they are struggling. Meanwhile, a worker starting to suffer from the early stages of heat exhaustion may not realize the danger they are in.

For those reasons, workers should look out for each other. Encourage employees to watch each other for symptoms, and empower them to intervene as needed to improve the situation.

Have an Emergency Protocol

Be prepared if things take a bad turn. Have the proper medical equipment on hand if an employee suffers from heat stroke. Contact authorities immediately if the situation escalates to the point where medical attention is necessary.

Safety should be a key focus for any business. Competent, conscientious employees make it easier to maintain a safe business environment.

How do you get those kinds of workers? Working with a top-flight recruiting partner, like SmartTalent, brings you the kind of team members you need to maximize your safety profile.

Contact SmartTalent today to learn more.