There are potential dangers around every corner, slips, trips, and falls in our field and from places that most people wouldn’t think of right away. With the summer months quickly approaching, a whole new set of dangers come with it.

In construction, a large portion of work is performed outdoors. Extreme temperatures influence worker safety, and during the summer months, workers are at a greater risk for heat stress.

Heat stress is the overall heat load on the human body, including temperature, humidity, and radiant heat in the thermal environment and metabolic heat generated by physical activities.

Heat illness results from the body’s inability to expel heat, causing excessive sweat loss or an overly high body core temperature. Ailments that can arise because of excess heat are heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, and heat rash.

To combat the effects of working in the heat, employees and employers must use specific strategies.

Acclimatization is the physiological adaptation of the human body to heat. Employees should gradually increase their work intensity and duration, and exposure to the heat during this acclimatization period.

Next, you can adjust your shift times to have employees start earlier in the day to avoid working during the hottest part of the day.

Maintain a state of hydration. Drink water frequently, not just when you feel thirsty.