Beat the Heat: Tips for Staying Hydrated in Hot Weather on Construction Sites

As the summer months begin and the sun beats down, it’s time to give a warm welcome to a refreshing topic: staying hydrated while working in hot weather! At Biiibo, we provide year-round material deliveries and recognize the challenges of scorching summer temperatures when working outdoors on job sites. Hydration levels can be depleted quickly when working in the heat, which can lead to heat stress and pose a serious health hazard - not to mention the potential impacts on everyone’s productivity.

The list below isn’t expansive, but it will get you and your team off to a good start.

1. Feeling Thirsty? Take Extra Care

By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Going into the workday already dehydrated can be dangerous. The first step to keeping safe on hot summer days, is to begin drinking water before you start working outside. Once you're on-site, continuous access to drinking water throughout the day is also necessary to avoid heat stress. A few large coolers with water and ice should do the trick for construction sites with a smaller crew. However, larger crews may need multiple coolers of water and ice that are replenished throughout the day. Ideally, keep these coolers in the shade but still close to the work action so it’s convenient to grab a drink frequently. Try drinking 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes for optimal hydration while in the heat. Beverages like sports drinks or coconut water are a bonus because they contain electrolytes that help you retain water and boost hydration even further! It’s easy to get caught up in the middle of a job and forget to drink. To avoid this, set a schedule or timer to keep those coolers replenished and remind the team to drink up!

2. Dress For The Heat (and Sun)

Did you know in hot, hard-working conditions, workers can lose up to 1.5 liters of water each hour in the form of sweat? That’s a lot of water! While drinking water is great, it’s important to include other measures to prevent dehydration. The clothing you wear can help keep you cool and prevent heat stress. Many construction workers are required to wear special protective equipment that can be bulky and thick. This is great for general workplace safety but not the best when working in hot and humid environments. Wearing the right type of clothing underneath your protective gear can be your ally in these situations. Equip yourself with a light breathable base like UV protective/reflective shirts to help avoid unnecessary layers and defend yourself against those blistering sun rays. If you can - purchase cooling evaporative clothing or neck towels.

3. Setup a Shade Station

Frequent shaded breaks away from the beating sun are also an essential part of combating dehydration. Site supervisors should encourage workers to cool down regularly in a shaded or air-conditioned area when temperatures rise. If your job site doesn’t already have a cool or covered space you can use tents to create designated shade stations. Larger sites may need several stations dispersed throughout the work space to be accessible to everyone. Making them portable is great idea so you can change their location to align with the progression of your project. Design your shade stations with coolers filled with cold water/electrolyte drinks, chairs and tables for some rest, and of course, a tent to stay covered from the hot sun. You can even include snacks with a high water content like fruit and veggies, cold misters to spritz the body, ice packs for your vests, and sunscreen! A functional, effective shade station like this can encourage those necessary breaks for all workers on the site. A short break in the shade can be the difference between a worker doing a great job and a job not being done.

4. Ease into the Hot Weather

Your heat tolerance can’t be built in one day! Acclimatization to the heat should start at the first sign of hot weather. As the temperatures rise, begin gradually exposing yourself/workers to the heat in short 1 hour intervals over a couple week period. Once finished, you should notice better sweat function to help your body cool naturally and less strain on the heart and other vital organs when working in hot conditions. When done correctly and monitored properly, acclimatization improves heat tolerance and increases work productivity! Did you know that it takes about 14 days to be properly acclimatized but only a few days to lose it? This is why it’s important to have a proper plan in place for not only acclimatizing workers but also monitoring those who have been away from the heat for more than a few days. Stay alert as these workers may need to go through the acclimatization process again. Not sure where to start? Check out an example plan here.

5. Something Not Looking Right?

Staying hydrated, dressing in light clothing, and acclimatizing to the heat are all fantastic ways to help prevent heat stroke. However, it doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen. Headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion, hot/red skin, dark yellow urine, and a fast pulse are several key signs of heat exhaustion. Learning and looking out for these signs of heat exhaustion can help prevent it from turning into heat stroke, which can cause permanent disability or death. People focused on a task may be less likely to notice their own symptoms. Pair up with a partner at the construction site to stay alert and help recognize the symptoms of heat stress on each other during those hot humid days.

6. Beat The Heat With Biiibo

When the temperatures are blazing, even the most prepared construction sites can see low energy levels, a productivity decrease in their workers, and shorter workdays that result in project delays. Don’t let the heat put you behind! Biiibo can help you stay on track during those summer heat waves with our construction material delivery service. Schedule your deliveries with us and we’ll have your materials ready so you can keep your project rolling and end the hot days early! As the heat rises, so does the number of breaks your workers need. Biiibo gives your workers a chance to relax and cool off during those breaks by eliminating trips to the hardware store.  Shop now ->

By implementing all of a few of the above tips you can proactively help safeguard your workers (and yourself) from heat stress.

Stay safe, stay hydrated! See you on the job site.