Construction work is challenging because of many reasons. But the one problem you need to take special care of is fighting the heat.
Summers are becoming increasingly harsh each year. The temperature shoots up astronomically which makes working outdoors next to impossible for home improvement contractors. As a leader, it is your duty to protect yourself and your staff from the summer heat.
Stay Hydrated
Our body comprises mostly water. Undoubtedly, the best way to handle the heat is by staying hydrated throughout the day.
Before the season reaches its peak, advise your team to bring water bottles. Drinking fluids between working cools down the body and helps it regain lost water. You can tie up with a provider and install water dispensers in multiple areas on the site.
Relaxation Stations
Direct sunlight in summers drains the body of fluids and energy. Fatigue hits comparatively earlier during this season.
Apart from the water dispensers, you can make a few relaxation stations. This area should be properly insulated, not letting in the heat & maintaining a cool temperature inside. You can use fans or other cooling devices for this purpose. You can also install water coolers for the cold water supply.
Timely Breaks
Keeping the increased fatigue in mind, there is another change that you can make to help your employees. Increase the number of breaks during day time.
Increase the number but decrease the duration so that you don’t lose productivity. This will keep everyone fresh and active at all times. However, make sure that the breaks do not exceed a certain time limit. If that happens, you will need to impose strict rules for better workflow.
Right Uniform
Choosing the right uniform is important.
One uniform throughout the year does not work. Have a separate uniform for summers. Uniforms of lighter colors are better as darker colors absorb more heat. The fabric used should be breathable. If you can allocate more budget to this, opt for sweat-absorbing material. Do not dial back the safety equipment. No matter how hot it becomes, ditching safety gear like helmets or gloves increases the chances of accidents.
Tweak Your Schedule
Changing your schedule according to the weather can help increase the amount of work done on that day.
Start the job a little earlier in the day. The alternative is starting the work a little late and staying late after the sunset. The principle is making use of the time when the heat is down. Identify & plan your breaks during that time of the day when the temperature is at the maximum.
Be Prepared For Emergencies
Taking precautions lowers the risk rate. Unfortunately, emergencies can still happen. In case of a minor heat stroke, guide the employee to one of the relaxation stations and allow them to rest for a while. Give them water that is rich in electrolytes or other beverages with similar properties like coconut water. In case anyone faints, here’s how to deal with crashes on the worksite.
Summer heat bothers everyone, even your client. It is a good idea to suggest them natural ways to bring down the temperature, windows. Here are a few reasons to consider large windows.
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