Beat The Heat | Seven Tips To Stay Cool

A member of Western's crew staying hydrated to beat the heat

Summer is a great time for construction work but a brutal time for construction workers. Excessive temps and sun exposure pose significant dangers, such as sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Every year, construction workers become ill on the job, and some even lose their lives due to heat exposure.

To protect its workers from the extreme summer temperatures, Western Specialty Contractors manages a heat illness training program and a safety hotline for its employees.

As part of the program, training is provided to all employees and supervisors who work in high temperatures. Training topics include how heat can affect the body, how to identify the signs and symptoms of various heat-related illnesses, and what to do if a co-worker is experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness. Western also regulates the hotter environment by providing water and shade to workers and having supervisors and safety managers monitor the heat index so that the proper protective measures can be taken.

“It is important, particularly during the summer months, that outdoor workers drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, which is the primary cause of heat cramps and exhaustion,” said Alex Jeffries, Safety Director at Western Specialty Contractors.

Alex, who has training and experience managing the health and safety of outdoor workers, offers the following tips for preventing heat-related illnesses on a construction job site:

Western's crew staying hydrated during the summer heat
Western's crew staying hydrated during the summer heat
  1. Drink water frequently and drink enough water that you never become thirsty. Drink water or other non-caffeinated electrolytic beverages, and ensure your drinks are always cool, not room temperature. Adding a lemon slice to water can make plain water more drinkable.
  2. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing made from natural materials such as cotton. Avoid wearing non-breathing synthetic clothing. Wear safety glasses with UV protection, sunscreen, and brimmed hard hats.
  3. Gradually build up to heavy work. If possible, do the most demanding work during the coolest time of the day. Workers who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face additional hazards to their health and safety. New workers and those returning from time away need to be extra careful in ensuring they stay hydrated.
  4. Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity. Move to the shade or an air-conditioned area when possible, but try not to go in and out of air conditioning too much as it will make it harder for you to adjust to the temperature. Use cooling fans whenever possible.
  5. Select your lunch carefully. Junk food is high in fat and preservatives and will put a high caloric load on the digestive system. Try eating a big breakfast, so you're not as hungry at lunch. Eat light lunches that include fruits, vegetables, and salads.
  6. Keep an eye on your co-workers and be alert for signs of heat exhaustion. Early symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, stumbling, dropping tools, slurred speech, or unresponsiveness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call and immediate cooling.
  7. Check your urine frequency and color throughout the day. Water intake is adequate when urine is clear or light yellow. When the desire to urinate is less than twice per day and/or you are producing dark yellow urine, you may be dehydrated.

By training employees on the early signs of heat exhaustion, taking the proper precautions, and employing tips like those listed above, outdoor workers can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related dangers.

Shawn Nichoalds | Viewpoint Summit, June 14

(St. Louis, MO, June 13, 2022) Western Specialty Contractors Sr. Director of Information Technology Shawn Nichoalds is slated to present at the Trimble Viewpoint Vista User Summit (June 14-15), the nation’s largest free, live and virtual construction technology summit.

Nichoalds’ virtual session, “The Coolest Things Customers are Doing with Vista,” is scheduled for 1-1:50 p.m. CST on June 14. For more information or to register for the Vista Summit, visit https://events.viewpoint.com/vista-summit-2022.

Trimble Viewpoint’s Vista Construction Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software enables users like Western Specialty Contractors to quickly and easily view the status of projects and project management activities in real-time. The software is also capable of managing risk and tracking revenue, among other features.

Nichoalds, along with co-speaker Joe Garza, Software Consultant for Trimble Viewpoint, will share examples of how customers like Western are managing workflows and solving unique challenges using the Vista software. Western has used Vista for the past eight years.

“Building positive relationships, partnering with the right companies, like Viewpoint, and having the right people in place make executing strategic plans much easier,”

Shawn Nichoalds | Senior Director, Information Techonology | Western Specialty Contractors
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“With the compensation dashboard and automating the data input for salary raises, our Chief Human Resources Officer says the software has saved us about a week’s worth of time. In the past it would take about a week, and now it’s done within five minutes.”

Bradley Johnson | Senior Director, Information Techonology | Western Specialty Contractors

The Vista Summit will also feature:

  • Product training, pro tips and Vista customer suggestions
  • An opportunity to earn up to seven free Continuing Professional Education credits.
  • New product and capability announcements for Vista customers
  • Training on specific workflows designed to save time and effort
  • Industry information and best practices
  • Networking opportunities, resources and product tips

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational, and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology.