The Importance of Additional Safety Measures in the Summer

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise, construction site safety becomes increasingly important. Heat, intensified UV exposure and physically demanding work all create hazardous conditions that can affect workers' health and productivity. Being prepared and providing the necessary resources will keep your project on track and look after your team. 

Common Summer Hazards on Construction Sites

An awareness of the common risks that summer weather can cause will help you prepare to combat them.

Heat Stress and Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat stress occurs when the body struggles to maintain a healthy temperature due to extreme heat and humidity. This can lead to several conditions, including:

• Heat exhaustion: Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness and nausea.
• Heat stroke: A more severe condition which can cause confusion, fainting and even seizures. 
• Dehydration: This occurs when not enough water is consumed, leading to loss of fluids. Dehydration can cause intense dizziness and fainting. 
• Heat cramps: Heat cramps result from salt depletion due to excessive sweating in high temperatures. 

Ensure that your workers are monitored and do not work alone in case anyone exhibits symptoms such as excessive sweating, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, confusion or fainting.
    
UV Exposure and Sunburn

Long periods of sun exposure can lead to significant risks, including sunburn and long-term skin damage. These issues can potentially lead to skin cancer. 

Combat these hazards by ensuring workers use sunscreen with a high SPF, wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, and schedule work to avoid peak sun hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
   
Dehydration

Maintaining hydration is crucial to prevent dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, dark urine, fatigue and dizziness. 

Workers should drink water regularly, even if they do not feel thirsty and they must have easy access to clean drinking water on-site. 
    
Fatigue and Overexertion

Working in hot weather can lead to fatigue much more quickly than in mild conditions. It is important to schedule regular rest breaks in shaded or cool areas and pace work to prevent overexertion. 
    
Increased Risk of Accidents

Heat can have a significant impact on both cognitive function and physical coordination, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents. Staying alert and focused is vital for maintaining safety on site. Implementing measures to mitigate heat stress and ensuring workers are well-rested can significantly reduce risks.

Preventative Measures and Best Practices

Employ these preparation and safety procedures for construction site workers to keep everyone safe and healthy. 

Adequate Hydration

Make sure that drinking water is readily available for workers. If you are in a location with no drinkable tap water, you must provide ample bottled water. Encourage regular breaks so your team have time to stop, rest and get hydrated.

Proper Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Workers should wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing to stay cool and use hats, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect against UV rays. Ensure that PPE is not too heavyweight or thick, use lighter summer alternatives where possible. 
    
Scheduled Breaks

Regular breaks in shaded or cool areas are essential to prevent heat stress. Structure break times to be certain that all workers rest adequately and nobody works continuously.
    
Site Planning and Scheduling

Consider rearranging your schedule to place more intense work in the cooler parts of the day and avoid doing strenuous work in the midday heat. If possible, adjust your workers' hours to suit. 
    
Training and Awareness

Training workers to recognise the signs of heat-related issues, illness and symptoms will go a long way towards prevention establish protocols on how to respond and make sure every worker knows where to find water, shade and first aid supplies.

Relevant UK Legislation and Guidelines

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:  It is the employer's duty to ensure the good health, safety and welfare of their employees. This includes the need for adequate safety measures during the summer months.
    
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: According to this act, employees must meet the requirement for risk assessments, including those related to temperature and heat stress.

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: Regulations state the necessity to provide thermal comfort and provisions for rest and drinking water for workers. 
    
HSE Guidance: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines detail the importance of managing heat stress in the workplace. There are additional resources and tools provided by HSE for risk assessment and mitigation. 

Keep Your Site Safe This Summer

By implementing preventative measures such as adequate hydration, proper clothing, scheduled breaks, site planning and training, site managers and workers can create a safer working environment. Staying vigilant and proactively using construction site safety equipment is essential to ensure the health and safety of construction workers during the summer months.

Get In Touch

At Tool Chest Hire, we provide a wide range of tools and equipment for your site, no matter the season. Give our experienced team a call today on 020 3481 6497 to find out more about how we can help you hire site safety equipment that is ideal for your needs. We look forward to hearing from you.