Many people work in air-conditioned offices, temperature-controlled retail spaces, or the comfort of their own homes. Construction workers don’t have that luxury. They have to work outdoors alongside the rest of the crew, through good weather and bad.
Construction workers are prone to heat stress. The physical exertions involved in construction already increases the body’s internal temperature. Add in some warm weather, even outside the summer months, and you have a serious hazard on your hands.
High heat is becoming increasingly common on construction sites, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier to cope with it. Excessive temperature can be dangerous, making it essential for all employers to address and control for it.
The Impact of Heat Stress on Construction Workers
Heat can have adverse effects on construction workers. In 2021, there were 36 work-related fatalities due to environmental heat exposure. While that figure is lower than the 56 deaths previously reported in 2020, even a single loss of life is too many.
Workers exposed to high temperatures are also at risk of a number of heat-related illnesses.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body is exposed to too much heat and experiences excessive dehydration. The condition is characterized by a rapid heart rate, headache, dizziness, extreme fatigue, and a higher than normal body temperature. People with a particularly low tolerance for high temperatures may also experience vomiting and nausea as a result of heat exhaustion.
Some construction workers get used to the heat over time. However, the warmth and strenuous tasks can still manifest in a lack of productivity or irritability.
Heat Stroke
It doesn’t stop there. The symptoms of heat exhaustion can also be a precursor to heat stroke.
A heat stroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature rises to 104ºF or higher and it cannot cool itself through sweating.
If anyone on the construction site suffers a heat stroke, they will collapse and have seizures. They may end up passing out. In the most severe cases, heat stroke is fatal. When it’s not, it can still cause long-term disability, especially when the complications are left untreated.
Heat Cramps
The abdomen, back, and limb muscles bear the brunt of powering through heat stress. Extreme temperatures and dehydration cause these muscles to tighten while the body sweats. This additional tension can result in cramping.
While you can soothe heat cramps and they are not themselves a serious condition, experiencing them on the construction still is still dangerous. The sudden pain and discomfort from cramping can cause a worker to slip, fall, drop an object, or lose control over their power tool, all of which could lead to a grave injury.
Heat Rashes
Heat can also cause uncomfortable prickly rashes to develop. Depending on the type of clothing worn, skin sensitivity, and sweat level, blotchy red marks can appear on different parts of the skin, causing it to become even more irritated.
A heat rash can also spread all over the body, making it even more challenging to deal with during warm weather. The only consolation about this condition is that it’s not infectious.
Combating Heat Stress with PPE
Most people think personal protective equipment (PPE) is for protecting workers from chemical, electrical, and mechanical hazards. In fact, PPE can offer features that improve thermal comfort and protect workers from heat stress during hotter days.
Mesh Safety Vests
General safety vests are fairly warm. Mesh safety vests are brightly colored and provide the same visibility as regular safety vests, but are far more breathable and help keep the wearer cool
Cooling Vests
Cooling vests have evaporative technology to help cool the body and manage its internal temperature.
They can be very effective but require some forethought and preparation. Some cooling vests to be soaked before wearing, while others are equipped with cooling gel and have to be kept in the freezer before clocking in.
Reflective Face Shields
The sun’s glare usually accompanies heat. Hard hats do little to prevent exposure to ultraviolet rays and heat, but equipping them with reflective face shields makes a difference. These face shields block radiant heat while providing protection against other hazards.
Compared to masks and safety goggles, a face shield also provides a relatively unobstructed view.
Heat Resistant Shoes
Cement and metal surfaces can absorb heat and create high-temperature danger zones. Sandals could help workers keep cool in those areas, but open-toed footwear is prohibited on all construction sites – and rightly so. Heat resistant safety shoes or work boots are better suited for handling these situations.
Download our free whitepaper on Cold Weather Dehydration: The Overlooked Safety Hazard!
Adopting Heat Stress Policies
Health and safety policies should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. OSHA began reaching out to employers in 2022, through their National Emphasis Program on Heat Hazards. The heat stress policies promoted as part of this program are even more relevant today.
Help Workers Acclimate
It can take time for workers to build a tolerance to extreme temperatures, especially if they are new to the construction industry. With the right approach to scheduling, workers can be given the time they need to acclimate to warming temperatures.
Ensure that strenuous work or work that can’t be done in the shade is scheduled for early in the morning or late in the shift, rather than during peak mid-day temperatures.
Jobs involving heat-generating equipment and machinery should be rescheduled for cooler days, if possible.
Likewise, work that can be done indoors should be saved for days when the outdoor heat is unbearable.
Monitor Workers for Signs of Heat Stress
Some managers allow their employees plenty of freedom in carrying out their work. However, it’s important to check in on all employees throughout the day and look for signs that they may be experiencing heat stress.
People who experience heat strokes often look confused before all the symptoms appear. Discomfort, perspiration, and cramps are other signs. Pay attention and issue a mandatory break if necessary.
Implement a buddy system for employees who work on more remote parts of the jobsite. Having work partners look out for each other can improve response times.
Supply Hydration
Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to combat heat stress. The body sweats out fluids to release warmth, so drinking to replenish those fluids is essential.
Intense sweating throughout the workday can cause employees to lose 2%- 6% of their body weight and lower their electrolyte levels. Low electrolytes contribute to heat exhaustion and cramps.
Encourage workers to sip some water every 15 to 20 minutes, even if they don’t feel thirsty. Electrolyte drinks can be helpful as well. While there are plenty of these available at any supermarket, industrial electrolyte solutions are a more suitable option for keeping construction crews well hydrated.
Create Designated Rest Areas
Rest areas are imperative to providing relief from the heat. Creating these spaces is as easy as finding a shaded area on-site and setting up benches where people can sit and cool down.
If the whole area is exposed to sunlight and heat, consider renting a tent for the duration of the project. You can equip the space with fans to improve ventilation and add cooling for workers who need to rest.
Provide Heat Stress Education
Heat stress can be difficult to manage, especially if people don’t understand the protocols or why they’re necessary. Dedicate time to sharing information about its impact and what can be done to prevent it.
It also makes a great subject for a morning toolbox talk. On warmer days, remind workers of what they can do to avoid heat stress. Encourage them to hydrate and rest when they feel like they are overheating.
Heat Stress Emergency Response Protocols
Prevention minimizes the risks of heat stress, but despite all your best efforts, it can still happen. And when it does, you should be ready.
The American Society of Safety Professionals recently published a standard on heat stress in construction with guidance for creating an emergency response plan. Refer to it when creating a plan for dealing with severe cases of heat stress on site.
Extreme cases of heat stress warrant a call to emergency services. While waiting for first responders, move the affected worker to a cooler area, remove their outer clothing to release body warmth, and encourage them to take sips of water.
Beat the Heat
Heat is an underrated construction hazard. It doesn’t readily come to mind as something that puts construction workers at risk, especially when compared to heavy machinery, intense physical work, and working at heights. But it’s a serious concern and one that requires action.
Understand the way heat affects workers and employ different strategies for protecting them from heat related illnesses. That way, they can continue working safely and working hard – all year round.
Ready to learn more? Check out our free webinar: 3 Steps to an Impactful Heat Stress Prevention Program!
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