- By Dean Finegold
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It may feel like it never stops raining in the UK, but increasingly we are facing warmer days and high temperatures the likes rarely seen before. Working in hot conditions can be challenging and there are limitations on how much of your clothing you can do away with when working on a construction site for more than modesty purposes.
Adapting your construction site to cope with workers’ challenges on a hot day is a must. There are a few minor changes worth considering to keep projects on track and reduce injuries and accidents that working in heat brings.
That being said, here in the UK, we face changeable temperatures even in the summer months. Rain and chilly wind one day and soaring heat and sunny skies the next leave our bodies little time to acclimatise. Heat stroke and lack of focus can be deadly on a construction site.
Tips to keep it cool on your construction site
Our tips look more into cooling your body rather than the environment and making adequate provisions for those working in full sun to escape it for periods.
Remember, many weather apps show temperatures in the shade, so outside in full sun or working on heat-absorbing surfaces can make the working environment feel even hotter.
● Our first tip isn’t only construction site related but will undoubtedly make you more popular with the workforce. Add a freezer alongside the fridge (you may even need a second fridge) in your welfare site cabin so your crew can access a supply of ice-cold treats. The more ways workers can cool down and stay cool for longer will benefit your site’s productivity as well as reduce the potential for accidents and agitation. Often tempers flare directly in relation to the degrees rising on a thermometer.
● Consider changing working hours to use the cooler daylight hours, and shift some tasks or the whole day to the cooler parts of the day. Such flexibility in hours worked could help to ensure critical jobs are carried out on time, whilst workers avoid the issues of the mid-day sun.
● Provide outside shaded areas, such as a gazebo, alongside your regular welfare cabins. Your welfare cabins can help keep drinks and cold treats to refresh and rehydrate the workforce, but taking a break in a comfortable shaded area outside may be appreciated.
● Ensure that there is access to plenty of cold water. Staying hydrated is essential for your body to cope with the rigours of working on a construction site, and cold water can make a refreshing splash too.
● Offer more breaks. If you have time to let your body chill down, you will be more productive when you start working again. So look at extra breaks as a measure to increase productivity on the hottest days rather than a disruption.
● Rearrange schedules. If you can’t change the working hours, move the tasks that require the greatest effort to the coolest part of the day. Continuing with tasks that require heavy focus in the heat could prove dangerous, so best to reschedule and reduce the chances of accidents and health issues.
None of our measures will break the bank, but they could require changing routines and additional provisions to keep the project on track and ensure your workforce is happy, healthy and not overheated.
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