Page 20 - Q2_2023 Rosendin Corp Newsletter

Four ways to keep your workers safe and

cool while working in extreme heat.

By: Shayne Stevens, CSP, CHST, CMPS, Senior Corporate Safety Director

he construction industry requires great involvement in every aspect
of safety. Any company can

attention to safety. For that reason, leaders achieve similar results
T must prioriti ze implementi ng company- through ongoing training
wide practices to protect their workers. on environmental and

personal risk factors
for heat illness. Here
At Rosendin, we rely on thousands of craft workers to

successfully build some of the country's largest industrial are four crucial Heat

and commercial projects. We have made it an ongoing Illness Prevention
mission to help our workers recognize dangers and elements that
prevent them from harm of any kind. When completing any company

projects in drier regions where heatwaves are common, can incorporate
such as Arizona and Texas, we also face the unique to keep

challenges that come with working in extreme heat. construction
workers safe
Understanding the possible effects of working in hot weather during the

and creating plans to avoid and handle any heat illness are summer heat.

essential elements of maintaining worker health. Rosendin

has developed a comprehensive Heat Illness Prevention Plan #1 - TRAIN FOR

to help workers across the nation follow safe practices. HEAT

In addition, we develop Site-Specific Safety Plans (SSSP) Commercial

that include specific heat mitigation plans based on construction jobs

the conditions at each site. This can vary based on can be challenging,

specific factors, such as regional temperatures, access to as workers are

shade and indoor cooling, and time spent outside. performing tasks outside

or in partial structures,
For example, in Arizona, Regional Safety Director Rick Brown such as high-rise buildings,
and his team develop, implement and refine SSSPs to ensure arenas, health care centers,

workers have mandatory shade in working conditions and renewable energy facilities.
exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, pre-shift meetings to

review the high heat procedures, and adjusted workloads. Companies should require employees
When needed, Brown and his team reduce the severity to undergo training to recognize heat illness

of work by scheduling slower-paced or less physically symptoms such as heavy sweating, cramps, weakness,

demanding work during the hottest parts of the day and the and dizziness. They should also learn to use prevention

heaviest work activities during the cooler parts of the day. methods as well as their region’s required Heat Illness

Prevention Standards and OSHA regulations. This should

Rosendin’s plans have been proven to significantly reduce job entail having project teams conduct safety orientation training
site heat hazards while increasing employee and subcontractor that includes how to respond to heat-related illnesses.