By R. Bruce Wright, CPCU
The work environment of a line worker is one of exposure to weather extremes, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, following the seasonal changes that affect most systems. With this being our summer issue, it seems like a good time to think about the effects of summer heat on line workers and others who work outdoors.
Summer weather conditions, when combined with the physical stress resulting from the strenuous labor involved in line work, produce a work environment that can exact a physical toll (mostly in salt and sweat) on field staffs. It is all too easy for managers (who enjoy air conditioned offices) to overlook the effects that these conditions can inflict on their “outside” staff. Truth be told, working on power lines is intrinsically stressful, both physically and mentally, even in pleasant temperatures, which are far from the norm.
Systems’ managers and field supervisors can, however, do a great deal to make life easier on the workers they must send out to work in the heat of summer weather. Here are some basic ideas on how to reduce the chance of heat related disorders in your workers while maintaining their productivity.
- Consider temperature extremes during job planning. Identifying that your workers will have to face high temperatures on a jobsite is the first step, one that allows you to be proactive in your job planning. Ice water vests, gel bandannas, and other PPE designed to reduce ambient body temperature can help – assuming of course that you make them available!
- Assess workloads as part of the planning for each job. Use the tailgate session as an opportunity to think about how strenuous the actual project will be. Plan for task rotation and scheduled breaks to keep workers fresh. You'll quickly find that the increased productivity more than makes up for any time lost for a few extra breaks during the work day.
- Make sure that everyone has access to plenty of hydration. Water is the natural choice and has some advantages. It hydrates better than any other liquid, both before and during exercise. Water tends to be less expensive and more available than any other drink. But, the body needs 4-6 ounces of water for every 15-20 minutes of exercise and that can add up to a lot of water! Most people find water relatively bland and stop drinking it before becoming fully hydrated. So, water is good, but only if enough gets used. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, Powerade, or other similar products, offer some additional benefits. Contrary to what their ad campaigns want to make us believe, the primary benefit is that most people think they taste better than water, so they are likely to drink larger volumes, which leads to better hydration! This is reinforced by the fact that the typical sweet-tart taste combination doesn't quench thirst as quickly, which encourages drinking well past the time that water loses its appeal to most people. The additives in most sports drinks also offer a carbohydrate boost and electrolytes which may be lost from perspiration, while adding fewer calories than juice or soft drinks. Gatorade even has extra sodium added to it to stimulate thirst.
- Train all of your field workers to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stress. Fatigue, rashes, cramps, and light-headedness are all warning signs of heat exhaustion which can lead to heat stroke. Make sure that your workers understand that you want them to take a break if they start experiencing any of these signs of heat related stress.
- Management awareness it critical! Finally, make sure that you train all of your supervisors, foremen, or leads to recognize the classic symptoms of heat stress and prepare them to deal with it promptly and properly. A comprehensive first aid training program is a good place to start as it will prepare them to deal with heat related emergencies. You should also teach them to recognize warning signs heat stress -- including making them aware that worker complaints about heat require their attention. Also, make sure that they monitor conditions on their jobsites since temperatures typically rise as the day wears on, peaking in the late afternoon.
None of these ideas cost much. By using them though, you can go a long way in reducing the chance of heat related problems on your jobsite and you just might make your workers a little happier, healthier, safer, and perhaps even more productive.
Editor's note: A tip of the hat to Walter Pfender, whom some of you may remember from his service with Synebar as a field consultant. This article was adapted from work he did for Synebar several years ago, prior to his moving up to a management position with a major insurance carrier.