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As the summer continues to scorch, there doesn’t appear to be any relief in sight for folks who work outside for a living.
Right on the heels of a record-breaking summer in 2023, where the Northern Hemisphere repeatedly smashed record-high temperatures and collectively recorded the highest average temperature on record, AccuWeather is predicting another 2-degree rise in average temperatures this summer.
With extreme temperatures and prolonged periods of unbearable heat becoming the norm, understanding how to recognize, treat and avoid heat-related illnesses on a jobsite is all we can do.
Human beings are unique within the animal kingdom for many reasons, and our uncanny ability to cool ourselves is one of the most ingenious.
As soon as your body’s internal temperature starts rising, your hypothalamus, which is also in charge of controlling sleep cycles and hunger levels, tells eccrine sweat glands all over your body that it’s time to sweat. As the sweat emerges, the excess body heat is used to convert beads of sweat into vapor, causing you to begin to cool by a process called thermoregulation.
The Heat Is On
Crane operators are normally more aware of the symptoms of heat-related illnesses than most due to their often-isolated and inherently dangerous work environments. Being aware of the key symptoms to watch for can not only improve safety and morale, it can save a life.
OSHA reported 2,830 heat-related illnesses in 2022 alone, a number that is surely underreported due to lack of awareness and reporting mechanisms in place.
Crane operators are particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to direct sunlight, limited shade, and the physical and cognitive demands of their job. It’s important to note that — just because you may not always be physically active under direct sunlight all the time — brain activity alone burns 20% of your calories.
Recognizing the symptoms of heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can improve safety, morale and will save lives. Heat stress and mild heat exhaustion are fairly easy to treat with a little shade, hydration and rest. However, just as quickly as things can get better, they can turn potentially fatal. Severe cases of heat stroke can cause dizziness, confusion, seizures and even loss of consciousness, which could obviously be very dangerous for someone operating a crane.
Hydration: It’s a Lifestyle
None of that fancy science works without water — so just like safety is a year-round commitment, so is hydration. Most experts advise looking at hydration as more of a habit than a task.
A good drinking habit for a crane or equipment operator at work in the heat, according to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA), is a sip or two of water every 15 minutes — remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
The best way to determine if you’re dehydrated is the tried-and-true pee color test. If your urine is clear or tinted slightly yellow — you’re good. The darker it is, the more severe the dehydration. Remember, by the time you’re thirsty (and your urine is brown), it’s already too late. Mild dehydration can be fully reversed in just a few minutes, so stopping it early is key.
Heat and Helmets
If the hypothalamus is struggling to regulate the internal temperature fast enough, the culprit isn’t always dehydration alone — it can be made worse by the very object protecting it … your helmet.
Research indicates that, when working in a 90-degree-Fahrenheit setting, white hard hats provided a measurably cooler environment around a worker’s head. Orange hard hats or high-visibility yellow hats, however, resulted in the highest average temperatures, accounting for a staggering 10-degree-Fahrenheit difference.
Opting for a breathable, full-brim hard hat is another good way to keep your head, face and neck area shaded.
Take Breaks … and Drink Up
Scheduling breaks while working outside in extreme heat is very important. We know that work must continue to get done regardless of the weather, but schedules should be adjusted to minimize exposure to extreme heat.
In a move that was welcomed, but also alarmingly overdue, the Department of Labor says it’s close to publishing official regulations for protecting construction workers from the hazards of heat illness while on the job.
Oh, and you’re probably tired of hearing about it, but it’s worth mentioning one more time — hydration really is key to preventing heat-related illness. Staying hydrated is the most crucial factor in preventing heat-related illnesses and the easiest precaution to take.
Tips for Staying Cool and Hydrated
