With Alberta’s summer temperatures recently soaring into the 30s, ensuring the safety of construction workers is crucial. Many of our companies’ employees are spending hours working outside in the hot sun. Although susceptibility to heat-related issues varies among individuals (due to factors like age, fitness level, and acclimatization), CLRA would like to encourage everyone to take extra care when working in the heat.
Employers can mitigate heat-related risks for their employees by:
• Ensuring access to cool drinking water.
• Enforcing regular breaks.
• Planning physically demanding tasks for cooler times of the day.
• Educating workers on recognizing symptoms of heat stress and the importance of prompt reporting.
Workers can protect themselves by:
• Drinking plenty of water, even if not feeling thirsty.
• Wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing with necessary PPE.
• Alerting supervisors immediately if experiencing symptoms of heat stress.
• Adjusting work pace to avoid overexertion and prevent heat-related illness.
Prioritizing heat safety protects workers during the summer months. Check out the government of Alberta’s full infographic on more tips for working in extreme heat here. Visit this page for more information on how to handle extreme heat events.
