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Summer is here – longer days, sunshine, and the outdoors sound like the perfect conditions to get all that work done but with summer comes a new set of risks you’ve got to stay on top of. Have you thought about what you are doing to protect your team from the effects of the summer sun and heat?

Stay cool, seek shade and stay safe to minimise the risks of sunburn and skin cancer, but we also need to be aware of heat exhaustion, dehydration and fatigue. 

Know the signs 

Heat exhaustion can sneak up on you when you’ve been sweating a lot and not replacing your fluids. If it’s not treated early, it can lead to heat stroke, which is much more serious.

Heat stroke occurs when the body can’t keep itself cool causing a high body temperature of 39.4 degrees or more.

Heat rash and heat cramps are the early stages of heat exhaustion. Knowing the signs and what to do will help prevent the onset of heat exhaustion or worse, heat stroke.

Check out this resource that gives some handy tips on symptoms and treatment options for common heat-related stress. 

If you’ve got a health condition that could be made worse by extreme heat, have a quiet word with your manager or supervisor so they can help you manage it.

Simple ways to stay safe this summer

• Plan your day: The sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm. Where you can, shift the heavy or outdoor work to the cooler times of the day, and take more breaks during the hottest part.
• Keep your fluids up: Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Keep sipping water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Cover up: Even on cloudy days, UV rays can get through. Wear sunblock, a wide-brim hat, and lightweight long-sleeve clothing to protect your skin.
• Take it easy: Pace yourself and share the load. Rotate tasks with your crew so no one is stuck doing the hard stuff all day in the sun.
• Listen to your body: Feeling tired, dizzy or sick? Take a break in the shade and grab some water. Don’t push through — fatigue makes it harder to think straight and that’s when accidents happen.

Don’t forget to talk about it 

Make sun safety part of your Toolbox Talks during summer, it’s an easy way to remind the team about the risks and what to do about them. You can record your talk straight into the HazardCo App.

Got questions or want to talk about how heat could impact your work? Give our Advisory Team a call on 020 4571 3920 (option 3), we’re here to help.