HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — With temperatures now reaching 100 degrees, the heat is taking its toll on everyone, but no one more than those who work outside.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that heat-related deaths have been increasing every year.
“This heat has been really brutal to me,” construction worker Josiaha Jenkins told News 19. “You can ask them, I literally look like I’ve gotten out of the shower every time we’re out here. By 9:30 a.m. I am already drenched.”
Just last year, a 33-year-old construction worker lost his life due to a heat-related illness while on the job, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. HEMSI told News 19 that, at 2:30, the time of the interview, they had already responded to three heat emergencies at outdoor job sites. Two of these emergencies were at a construction site.
Don Webster with HEMSI shares what needs to be done to prevent heat-related emergencies on a job site.
“As the days beginning, drink plenty of liquids and hydrate themselves,” Webster said. “Wear loose fit clothing, light-colored clothing. Those kinds of situations. And then once they start, get on the job site and are doing the activities outside, take frequent breaks.”
Webster shared that while employers may not like it, outdoor employees should be taking a 10-minute break every hour that they are working outside. He went on to say that there are three signs that indicate a heat-related illness in someone: cramping, lightheadedness or nausea, and a lack of sweating.
Owner of Southern Edge Outdoor Solutions LLC, Jonathon LaPlante, goes one step further when trying to help his employees: finish early and beat the heat.
“It gets pretty warm,” LaPlante said. “And, the biggest part is staying hydrated and kinda cool, right? We work as much as we can. We got gallon jugs of water. So, we work and take breaks as we need to. Try to hit it early, then get done a little earlier in the day is what we aim for.”
