Working in the Texas heat can be exhausting and deadly. Outdoor and indoor heat can be dangerous if you don’t take safeguards to protect yourself while you work. Nearly three out of four fatalities from heat happen during the first week of work.
New and returning workers need to build a tolerance to heat and take frequent breaks with plenty of water. As a rule of thumb, work no more than twenty percent of the shift at full intensity in the heat. Increase your workload by twenty percent each day until you are acclimated to working in the heat.
As you are working up to your full workload, be sure to drink cool water. Drink about one cup every 20 minutes, even if you are not thirsty. When you get thirsty, your body is telling you that you are already dehydrating.
Take rest breaks when you are feeling too hot and uncomfortable. Take the time to recover before heading back out into the heat. Temperature, humidity and working conditions play a major part in your ability to recover adequately.
Find that shade tree or cool area.
Dress for the heat. Do not wear dark clothes. Wear a hat and light-colored clothes. Keep it loose-fitting and breathable. If you wear a face covering, check it if it is wet or soiled. Above all, watch out for each other and verbally check on others frequently.
Some of the signs of heat exhaustion is abnormal thinking or behavior, slurred speech, seizures or loss of consciousness.
If a co-worker experiences these symptoms, call 911, cool the worker with water or ice and stay with the worker until help arrives.
If a worker experiences headaches or nausea, weakness or dizziness, heavy sweating or hot, dry skin with no sweating, elevated body temps above 103 degrees, thirst or decreased urine output, take actions such as giving water to drink, removing unnecessary clothing for cooling, move to a cooler area like shade or inside a building with AC, Cool with water, ice or a fan on the body, do not leave them alone and seek medical help.
