ASPHALT ANSWERS
out of the heat , unless it ’ s into the shade . If you go into a cool truck or building during lunch , you are setting yourself up for fatigue and sickness . While this might sound counterproductive , you will have to be careful to replenish your body with lost liquids . But we must be careful what we drink . Avoid sugary drinks and , of course , alcohol . Water with electrolytes is the best , but don ’ t wait until you are thirsty to drink . Clothing is another great way to beat the heat , but must be carefully considered when working around asphalt . Even when it is hot out , we cannot forget basic safety wear such as reflective clothing , long pants and boots . Many contractors use high visibility t-shirts as part of their everyday uniform . Long-brimmed hats and sunscreen are also a must . Regionally , I see workers with long-sleeved microfiber shirts , which might also sound against the grain , but they tell me the material wicks away perspiration and actually keeps them cooler . Summer safety also goes deeper than hydration and clothing . As the mid-year backlog gets longer , so do the stresses of finishing the job and moving on to the next . This may cause the unprofessional team to cut corners and possibly make choices that they wouldn ’ t normally . For example , an early day walkaround of the equipment shows that a safety chain guard has been compromised and requires repair . But because time is short today , its not given a priority to fix and “ checked off ”. The result could be an unexpected trip to the hospital or worse for an unsuspecting employee . Also , hurrying to get from one job to the next , a piece of equipment doesn ’ t receive the care required to insure it is secured to the trailer . The resulting accident ties up traffic for hours and hopefully doesn ’ t end in a fatality . Just one clear head can make sure that the day runs as normal and set an example for the entire season . The summer season also wreaks havoc on the traveling public , that is the ones we are trying to serve . Tempers seem to flare when temperatures rise as folks are trying to get from point A to point B in a hurry . Don ’ t get caught in the trap of bending the rules because a motorist is late for work or has to get to the grocery store . Cones and flaggers are in place for a reason and need not be altered for any reason . Make sure all complaints are handled by a person in charge so that the face of the company can never be questioned or compromised . Like I always say , “ People complain about getting the roads fixed and complain when they are getting fixed .” Safety is priority one , not just in the summer months , but it seems as if that ’ s when it takes center stage . The fast paced environment that is our economy brings us a new challenge every day . We cannot lose focus on the bottom line , which is protecting the family that is our workers . I ’ d be interested in any interesting safety stories you may have from the field .
Brian Hall , LeeBoy Territory Manager . He can be reached via email at Brian . Hall @ Leeboy . com .
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