Working in Summer

Summer is a great time to get cracking, but it does bring some extra health and safety risks. Here’s our top tips to help you stay safe and make the most of the warm weather.

Sun (UV) exposure

It may seem obvious, but it’s an easy one to overlook and can be fatal given New Zealand’s high rates of skin cancer. So even though it’s great to enjoy the sunshine while on-site, make sure you and your team follow basic sun-smart rules such as covering up, wearing breathable fabrics, a hat and using a good-quality sunblock.

Safety sunglasses, to protect eyes both from flying objects and UV rays, are also a good idea. With any sunglasses, always check the impact and UV rating.

Dehydration

Your body can overheat when it can’t cool itself through sweating. Anyone building or landscaping in the heat of a summer’s day is at risk of dehydration. This could be due to working in the direct sun, working near heat-producing processes or simply from the work you are doing (whether indoors or outside). The effects of working in heat range from mild discomfort through to life-threatening heatstroke. With that in mind, please consider:

Planning ahead: try to avoid or limit prolonged exposure to extreme heat, and work in the shade when possible. Ensure there is adequate air flow or ventilation to help keep the temperature down. Wear lightweight clothing if it’s safe to do so, but be sure to comply with your company’s clothing regulations.
Keeping up the fluids: most people need about eight glasses of water per day, but if you’re working in the heat, it’s likely you will need more. Make sure you and your crew drink plenty of water throughout the day and limit sugary or caffeinated drinks.

Fatigue

If you’ve been waiting for good weather to get cracking on a job, it can be tempting to push through and extend your working day. But ignoring the signs of fatigue in yourself and your workers can be a real risk. Please consider:

Work scheduling: take regular breaks and consider extra breaks if the work is demanding. Monitor and place limits around overtime and avoid incentives to work too many hours. If you need to work longer hours, consider staggered start and finish times, and longer breaks and periods off work.
Better ways of doing things: use the right tools and resources for the job. Consider low-vibration hand-held tools and, where practical, install low-vibration seats in machinery. Rotate tasks between workers and make sure workloads and deadlines are realistic.

Warning signs:

Make sure you know the danger signs to look out for when working in the heat. If you do overheat, you’ll notice symptoms like:

Feeling weak or dizzy
Darker coloured urine
Pounding or rapid pulse
Loss of balance, fainting
Headaches
Muscle cramps
Mood changes or confusion
Clammy or sweaty skin

If heat stress or exhaustion is not dealt with quickly, it can progress to heat stroke. At its worst, this can be life-threatening.

Be extra careful when doing these types of work, which make you more likely to suffer heat exhaustion:

Working in confined spaces
Doing underfloor, ceiling or roof work
In cabs of mobile plant
Closed areas with limited air flow

It’s important to always protect yourself from the effects of heat by wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, taking breaks and seeking shade.

Top 5 tips

1. Stay cool

Kiwis have one the highest melanoma rates in the world. Limit your exposure to harmful UV rays by covering up with UV-rated clothing, wearing a high-quality sunblock, and wearing safety sunglasses. Wear breathable fabrics and a hat but be sure to comply with your company’s clothing/PPE rules.

2. Don’t sweat it

Stay hydrated with lots of water. Most people need about eight glasses of water a day, but if you’re working in the heat, you’ll probably need more. Avoid dehydrating drinks like those with caffeine or alcohol.

3. Be the man (or woman!) with a plan

Plan ahead to try to limit your time in the heat and work in the shade when possible. Take regular breaks and consider extra breaks if the work is demanding.

4. Tool up

Use the right tools for the job and try to switch tasks regularly if using vibrating power tools. Consider low-vibration hand-held tools, and install low-vibration seats in machinery if possible.

5. Danger signs

Know the warning signs to watch out for when working in the heat. If you do overheat, symptoms include: weakness or dizziness, darker coloured urine, pounding or rapid pulse, loss of balance or fainting, headaches, cramps, mood changes or confusion, and clammy or sweaty skin.

Remember, if heat stress or exhaustion is not dealt with quickly, it can progress to heat stroke. At its worst, this can be life-threatening.