Adapt to the First Heat Wave This Year When Working Outdoors

As the weather is forecast to continue around the 30^oC mark with high UV levels in many areas across the UK, it’s worth revisiting how roofing companies can adapt their working practices to keep operatives on site safe in the sun and avoid illness or sunstroke.

Adapting Work Times

For roofing companies, the first consideration is the time of the day you are working.

• Time management: Reschedule physically strenuous tasks to cooler, early morning or late evening hours to avoid the peak heat of 11am-3pm.
• Rest breaks: Increase the frequency of breaks and spend them resting in shaded areas or air-conditioned spaces.
• Job rotation: Rotate tasks among team members so no single person is doing heavy manual labour in direct sun for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Hydration & Nutrition

Stay Hydrated

• Drink consistently: Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Aim for roughly 1 cup of cool water every 15 to 20 minutes.

• Avoid drinks that do not hydrate: Limit consumption of coffee, tea, and energy drinks, as caffeine contributes to fluid loss.
• Electrolytes: If you are sweating heavily for hours, alternate with electrolyte-replacement drinks to maintain your body’s salt balance, such as Lucozade or Huel.

Clothing & Sun Protection

Adapt PPE

• Sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 on all exposed skin, and reapply it every few hours.
• Appropriate clothes: Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting, and moisture-wicking clothing to allow sweat to evaporate and help the body cool. Do not be tempted to go topless and risk sunstroke.
• Head and face: Protect your ears, face, and the back of your neck by wearing a sun-shield attachment on a hard hat.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Remove heavy PPE to encourage body heat loss. Light weight hi-vis t-shirts, polo shirts, or mesh vests are available.

Monitoring Health

Check Colleagues

• Recognize symptoms: Watch out for the early signs of heat exhaustion or heat stress, which include excessive thirst, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps.
• Buddy system: Work in pairs or teams and check on each other for any signs of confusion, extreme fatigue, or heat rash.

>> Read more about sun safety in the news