Working during hot weather comes with certain risks to health and safety. In order to protect the wellbeing of your staff, we’ve put together some top tips that are particularly important during the summer months.

What are the health and safety precautions during hot weather? 

Hot environments and working in the sun can have multiple negative effects on workers, including dehydration, exhaustion and eye strain. Meanwhile, though everyone loves a tan, this is actually a sign that the skin has been damaged by ultraviolet rays – a bit of a tan should be fine, but prolonged and regular exposure to UV rays can lead to blistering, skin ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer.
To ensure that your employees can work safely during hot weather, try implementing as many of the following actions as possible:
·       Provide free access to cool drinking water
·       Reschedule some work to cooler times of the day
·       Allow workers to take regular breaks
·       Educate employees in spotting the early symptoms of heat stress
·       Supply all workers with suitable safety workwear

We would recommend long sleeves and long trousers when the sun is very strong. Also, a neck cape is recommended as the back of the neck is very vulnerable.

How to work safely in the heat 

The type of protective workwear your employees require will depend on their roles. If they’re working outside in unshaded areas, safety sunglasses are an easy and effective way to protect their vision from becoming strained. Your staff also need to remain cool and comfortable, which is why we stock a wide range of summer workwear that includes T-shirts, polo shirts, sun caps and hats, workwear shorts and all kinds of UV protective clothing.

The importance of sunscreen 

Don’t forget that the application of sun cream is also crucial because UV rays can cause skin damage very quickly, even if the sun is entirely obscured by clouds. By supplying your outdoor workers with sun lotion, you’re keeping them safe from the sun’s rays and ensuring that they can carry out their duties even on the hottest days of the year.
For the best results, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors, as this way the skin has time to fully absorb it. Once absorbed, it also becomes less likely that perspiration will wash the sunscreen away, although reapplying later in the day is highly recommended for outdoor workers.

Drink water throughout the day

Dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, headaches, wooziness and other health problems. All workers should drink water regularly throughout the day rather than waiting until they feel very thirsty.
When the weather is particularly hot, avoid sugary drinks and caffeine, as they tend to remove water from bodily tissue. Instead, drink plain or sugar-free flavoured water and try to eat food with high water content, such as tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, cucumber and celery.

Order your summer workwear today

We’re here to help keep your employees in control of their health and wellbeing during hot weather through the very best summer workwear. To find out more or place an order, give our team of safety specialists a call on 01 8499 100 or email sales@safetycare.ie.