While this summer’s weather has been far from perfect, it has still provided plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors. This is great for leisure activities, but not so good when it comes to work.
From sunburn to dehydration, hot weather can be harmful to your employees. Most of these risks are easily managed, but some require a bit more thought. Here’s a look at the most common hazards, and the steps you can take to keep everyone safe this summer.
Fatigue
Hot weather forces the body to work harder, and this can cause outdoor workers to become tired at a faster rate. Tiredness is the most common effect of fatigue, but it isn’t the only one. Besides feeling weary, fatigued workers may display a number of other symptoms:
- Headaches
- Bad temper
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of motivation
- Reduced attentiveness
All of these symptoms can affect productivity, but the real hazard is loss of concentration. This can be extremely dangerous, especially if workers are operating vehicles or heavy machinery.
The best way to avoid fatigue is to make sure workers get plenty of rest. Accept that your usual work schedule may not be suitable for summer, and make changes accordingly. This could mean scheduling extra breaks or changing shift patterns so that people aren’t working during the hottest parts of the day.
Dehydration
Working outdoors can lead to increased sweating, leaving employees vulnerable to dehydration. A dehydrated employee may display the following symptoms:
- Increased thirst
- Tiredness
- Nausea and dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- Excessive sweating
Unsurprisingly, the best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of water. Make sure that employees understand the importance of hydration, and ensure that there is a supply of drinking water close to the working area.
If an outdoor area has no water supply, consider providing workers with bottled water. Caffeine and sugar can exacerbate dehydration, so try to dissuade employees from drinking coffee or soft drinks while working outdoors.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses too much water and salt through excessive sweating, leading to tiredness, dizziness, cramps and nausea.
If left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, so it’s important to act quickly. If an employee is showing signs of heat exhaustion, you should do the following as soon as possible:
- Move them somewhere cool
- Remove jackets, socks and any other unnecessary clothing
- Give them a sports drink or, failing that, a glass of cold water
- Cool their skin with a spray or wet sponge
If the employee has not recovered after 30 minutes, they may be suffering from heat stroke. Signs of heat stroke include shortness of breath, an accelerated heartbeat, confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness. If any of these occur, you should call an ambulance immediately. Stay with the employee until help arrives and put them in the recovery position if they lose consciousness.
Sunburn
Sunburn is often dismissed as an annoyance, but the risks are very real. UK skin cancer rates are at a record high, with 17,500 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year. Over 85% of these cases are preventable, so a few simple steps can make a big difference.
The best way to prevent sunburn is to encourage employees to take it seriously. Make applying sun cream part of the daily routine and be ready to provide extra for workers who need it. Employees can also reduce the risk by wearing hats when working in direct sunlight, and by wearing shirts at all times. Alter schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Teach employees to spot the warning signs of skin cancer. If an employee notices a mole that has changed size, shape or colour, they should see a doctor as soon as possible. Do your best to accommodate this, even if it means them missing or changing a shift.
Further help
These are the most common risks, but every workplace is different. For safety advice tailored to you and your employees, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
