Top 10 Tips for Summer On-Site
Whilst many people in the UK will welcome the chance to get out in the sun this summer, we appreciate that working in the construction industry means prolonged exposure to working in hot conditions wearing PPE.
To ensure you and your team are equipped to stay comfortable, productive and cool on-site over the summer months; here are our top tips:
Wear breathable clothing and footwear
With long days on-site in the hot weather, it’s important that clothing is lightweight and breathable; whilst offering sufficient protection from the sun. It’s also worth considering choosing safety footwear with breathable linings, so workers’ feet are cool and comfortable in the summer months.
You can help reduce the layers you wear by opting for something like a Hi-Vis Coolviz Shirt, with fabric technology originally designed for use in professional sports. View our Coolviz Clothing Range here.
We also offer in-house transfer and embroidery branding. Email [email protected] for more information.
Fuel your body for the day ahead
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that’s even more important to remember during the summer months. As you burn more energy, try opting for breakfasts with a low GI such as porridge or eggs on wholegrain toast; so that energy is released slowly throughout the day.
Stay hydrated
Remember to drink sufficient water as the temperature increases. As we sweat more, it’s easy to forget that we need to be drinking more water than normal to avoid dehydration (aim for more than 2 litres of water per day). Providing site workers with plenty of drinking water, with water stations situated in shaded areas to fill their reusable bottles is ideal.
We recommend opting for an environmentally friendly solution, avoiding single use plastic with a water dispenser and biodegradable & compostable disposable cups.
Check the weather
Plan for the week ahead by checking the weather forecast. Depending on the weather, you can adjust your hot working strategy accordingly.
Find out the weather forecast for your area here
Remember to wear sunscreen
Applying sunscreen before a shift and every two hours thereafter is vital to protect skin from the potential long-term damaging effects caused by UVA and UVB rays. Remember ‘Think PPE, Think UV’.
For all your skin protection needs over the summer, we highly recommend the Deb UV Sun Safety Board. It comes complete with a current UV level indicator, guidance, mirror and mounting for your 1ltr Sun Protect Dispenser.
Look out for your team mates
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are some of the most common risks for those working outside in the hot summer months. Ensure you know the early signs and symptoms to look out for, so you can tell if any of our team mates may be showing early symptoms.
Ensure your safety eyewear offers UV protection
Protect your eyes with suitable UV protection safety glasses or goggles if working outside in the summer. We recommend looking for eye protection that offers a minimum of UV 400 protection (UV400 blocks 99 to 100 percent of UV light).
Our top pick for the summer is the Bollé Bandido tinted safety glasses, they’re anti-scratch, anti-fog, meet EN166F standards, and even come with a neck cord to help protect them from being dropped on-site.
Take regular breaks
Taking regular breaks in shaded areas, out of the sun, will help avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Browse our range of products to furnish and stock your canteen or rest areas here
Record if anybody suffers from allergic reactions
Many insects come out as the temperature increases, so ensure sure you’re prepared by keeping a record of anyone who suffers from allergic reactions and make the team aware of how to deal with an adverse reaction; such as using epi-pens, should anything happen.
Keep all First Aid Equipment safely stored and easily accessible with our innovative portable First Aid Responder Station, which comes complete with your own bespoke branded sign board.
Keep site offices cool
It’s not just the teams outside that need to be kept cool. Site offices on construction sites can also become overheated during the summer months, so ensure you’ve got adequate measures in place to keep the office cool with fans or portable air conditioning units.
Find your desk fan here or your pedestal fan here
