Summer is in full swing and so should your heat preparation and hazard prevention. Whether you work in the sun daily or casually enjoy the outdoors, maintaining sun and extreme heat vigilance is vitally important and could make the difference between life and death.
For those who work outside in the heat (or simply want to enjoy activities in the sun), there are many ways to remain safe and hydrated. However, it is important to remind yourself and others of the dangers of heat. Implementing weekly, or even daily, heat safety toolbox talks during the summer is worth the short amount of time out of the work schedule to keep everyone safe.
July/Summer Toolbox Talk Safety Ideas:
- Prevention and Avoidance of Heat (Illness)
- Talk about the risk of heat stress, the first signs and how to respond quickly.
- Hydration advice should be included. Having water on hand at all work sites in addition to various electrolyte solutions is key to remaining hydrated. Workers (and anyone in general) can fail to realize how much and how quickly their bodies lose water through sweat.
OSHA suggests making hydration stations readily available, and making employees drink water throughout the day (preferably one cup every 15-20 minutes)
- It may also be beneficial to leave reminders or timers to remind everyone to take breaks and drink water.
- Evacuation Preparedness and Fire Prevention.
- Go over fire safety plans, delegate safety positions, and practice evacuation with equipment if possible.
- Evacuation plans should also be in place for storms or flooding and should be practiced to ensure everyone knows what is expected in an emergency.
- Summer Celebration and Fireworks Safety
- List typical firework injuries and give ideas on safe ways to celebrate.
- PPE and Indoor Heat Hazards
- Stress from heat is not sequestered to the outdoors. Dangerous heat can also easily occur indoors from machines, poor airflow or enclosed places. Ways to mitigate this extreme heat include installing exhaust fans, utilizing large commercial fans, permitting regular hydration breaks and checking temperatures throughout the day.
- Additionally, workers can be encouraged to utilize various types of “cooling accessories” such as cooling towels, which are simple to use and can make a dramatic difference in working conditions. To use a cooling towel, simply soak the towel in cool or cold water, wring out excess water, and drape around the head or neck. For more intense and longer lasting cooling effects, put the wet towel in a freezer overnight or prior to wearing. Depending on the brand and make, cooling towels can offer two to six hours of cooling.
The importance of wearing sunscreen and clothing with UPF.
All people's skin needs protection from the strong, burning rays of the sun when working outdoors. Just because a person doesn't have a visible sunburn doesn't mean they aren't receiving dangerous UV sun rays. Visors, hats, sunglasses, and clothing encompassing UV protection is necessary to work safely in the sun. UT&F carries the PIP EZ-Cool Hard Cap-Style Hat Visor and the PIP EZ-Cool Full-Brim-Style Hard Hat Visors, in addition to others, which are effective protective products for working outside in addition to a variety of sun and safety glasses to fit a array of face sizes and shapes.
United Tool and Fastener offers an array of heat safety products and accessories including Milwaukee and PIP cooling towels, clothing incorporating UV protection, sunglasses, pallets of water, ALL SPORT electrolyte mixes and freezer pops, sun and neck shades, Igloo coolers, canopies, first aid kits and fans.
To learn more about all the various heat and other safety products UT&F sells, please call or stop by one of our showrooms: in Houston at 713-692-2323; in San Antonio at 210-495-8665; or in College Station at 979-731-8665.
