Heat Stress Prevention

Set up temporary tents to ensure workers have easy access to shade.

Ensure workers have access to cold water. Each worker should have access to clean water and drink one cup every twenty minutes.

Start the day with a tailgate talk and discuss best practices to ensure safety in the coming shifts. Ask workers about current symptoms to ensure they are healthy and able to start working.

Proactively schedule more frequent breaks throughout the workday. Each worker should know exactly when it is his/her turn to take a break in the shade so that not everyone breaks at once and delays work.

Temporarily stop working during these hours. Conditions are extreme and will increase the likelihood of heat stress.

Encourage workers to drink more water even though they may not feel thirsty. Since the humidity is so high, workers may sweat less making it more difficult for their body temperature to cool off.

Schedule jobs that require personal protective equipment during this time as the temperature is cooler and poses a lower risk.

Raise awareness and monitor conditions during these hours as the current temperature at this time of the day makes for extremely difficult working conditions.

Prepare to conduct physiological monitoring and check workers' pulse and body temperature.