Your employees likely spend a large portion of the day outside working under the hot sun. Doing so could jeopardize your employee’s health significantly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “heat-related deaths are one of the deadliest weather-related health outcomes in the United States.” Furthermore, skin cancer continues to be the most common form of cancer in the United States.
Keeping employees safe in the sun is critical. Not only do small business construction owners have a moral obligation to keep their employees safe, but they also have a legal requirement as well. Below, you’ll find a few tips and reminders that you can provide to your employees to help prevent heat-related illnesses on the job site.
Purchase Quality Sunscreen
One of the best things that your employees can do is to purchase quality sunscreen. The sunscreen shouldn’t need to be higher than 30 SPF. Anything higher than 30 SPF is marginally better, at best. Remind your employees that they could still be sunburnt even on a cloudy day. Additionally, because your employees will likely be hot, advise them to use sunscreen for sport, which is resistant to sweating.
You may also consider providing sunscreen to for your employees to use on the job site. The cost of doing so is nominal, but it could go a long way toward keeping your employees safe and health. Having an employee down because of a heat-related illness could set your project back considerably.
Lastly, make sure that the sunscreen contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both of these ingredients are essential for blocking the sun’s rays. These ingredients physically block the sun, as opposed to other components, which absorb the sun’s rays.
Take Breaks
Another way to ensure your employees stay healthy when working in the heat is to advise them to take breaks frequently. Employees should take a break from strenuous labor at least once an hour. Advise your employees to rehydrate often and to remember that once they are thirsty, dehydration has already set in. You should also advise your employees to drink water at night to help rehydrate for the next day.
How To Inform Your Employees
If you have employees spread throughout the county or state, you may be curious about how to inform all of them about these daily recommendations. One of the best ways is through a Time Clock App. A Time Clock App allows you to send messages and notification to your employees. You could begin each day or week with announcements, stats, and tips regarding heat-related illnesses.
You could also use the Time Clock App to communicate with your managers. For instance, when it begins to get hotter outside, you could remind your managers about the significance of heat-related illnesses. You could also inform them of the warnings signs for which they should be on the lookout, and the steps that they should take were they to notice an employee suffering from a heat-related illness.