Protect Yourself and Others from Heat Illness

As we transition into August, we’ll likely continue to see record high temperatures throughout many parts of Flatiron operations. In both the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the high for many days in August is expected to exceed 100 degrees.

As temperatures continue to spike, our Flatiron safety experts ask that you take a few minutes to educate yourself and your colleagues on the importance of heat safety awareness, the symptoms associated with heat illness and the preventative measures you can take to stop heat-related illness.

David Jones, Health & Safety Manager for the Mid-Atlantic District, offers some easy preventative measures that can be taken to lessen susceptibility to heat-related illness.

Although each person reacts to heat conditions differently, Jones says, the following practices can drastically decrease one’s risk of experiencing a heat-related issue:

• Wear sunscreen and light-colored clothing
• Take frequent breaks, especially during times of peak temperatures
• Drink water or electrolyte-replenishing drinks (Gatorade or Powerade) frequently
• Avoid energy drinks and caffeine while working in the heat
• Retreat to an air-conditioned area if you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous.

“I take heat safety so seriously because as a young boy growing up on a farm, I witnessed several individuals become overheated and suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” said Jones. “Working in extreme temperatures may be unavoidable, but suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke or even death, is.”