Cropped photo showing only eyes and forehead and a little bit of black hair, a man touches his sweaty forehead.

How to Acclimate to High Heat

by with No Comment Heat Stress

(photo by cottonbro studio)

Acclimation is the process of gradually increasing your workload and exposing yourself to the heat over a period of time.

Tradespeople and construction workers are known for their strong work ethic and enthusiastic pride toward their work. There is a natural inclination to want to jump in and get the job done. However, when it comes to working in hot conditions, that enthusiasm comes with significant risks.

Taking the necessary time to acclimate to the heat is not just beneficial; it’s a critical safety measure that could be lifesaving. By gradually increasing the workload over 1-2 weeks, taking at least 2 hours of exposure per day, and cooling off and rehydrating between shifts, workers can acclimate effectively. 

 NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) recommends the following acclimatization schedule: 

For NEW WORKERS:

– 1st day: 20% of usual work durations 

– 2nd day: 40% of usual work duration 

– 3rd day: 60% of usual work duration 

– 4th day: 80% of usual work duration 

– 5th day: 100% of usual work duration 

For workers with previous experience returning from absence, NIOSH recommends the following acclimatization schedule: 

– 1st day: 50% of usual work duration 

– 2nd day: 60% of usual work duration 

– 3rd day: 80% of usual work duration 

– 4th day: 100% of usual work duration 

If you’re away from the heat for too long, your acclimation will start to decline. 1-3 days in cooler conditions will not hurt acclimatization but after one week, it begins to decline. After one month, most people return to baseline.  

Here are some tips for acclimation:  

  • Don’t push yourself to the point of heat exhaustion – that won’t help speed up  acclimitazation.  
  • The more intense or longer your shifts, the more time you need to acclimate.  
  • Stay hydrated, replenish those electrolytes.
  • Keep active in your daily life helps with the acclimatization process.  

Acclimatization is essential for maintaining well-being and ensuring that both new and seasoned workers can perform their duties safely and effectively.

Read more about heat stress prevention worksites here and all about electrolytes here.

Are you more of a visual learner? Watch our expert led webinar on “Heat Stress on Worksites” here.

Browse our heat stress HERE.

Sources:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/acclima.htm
A hand holds a clear glass filled with water, the other hand holds a spoon that is pouring orange electrolyte powder into the water.

All About Electrolytes

by with No Comment Heat Stress

Gatorade made electrolytes a game-changer for athletes, but we now know that anyone in conditions that deplete sweat can benefit from electrolytes.

The job site is like its own workout. Manual laborers sweat it out while getting the job done, and electrolytes play a crucial role in keeping them safe and healthy. 

So, what are electrolytes exactly? They’re essential minerals that conduct electricity when they’re mixed in water. Our bodies are mostly water, and pretty much every fluid and cell inside us contain electrolytes. These amazing little guys help our body’s electric currents flow smoothly. They keep the right fluid balance, help muscles contract, balance our pH levels, and even keep our nervous system happy. When we have too many electrolytes, our kidneys filter them out through urine. We also lose electrolytes through sweat, so when you’re working hard, you’re losing electrolytes too. 

Now, let’s talk about the key players in maintaining normal electrolyte levels. 

(Source: istockphoto.com)

First up, we’ve got sodium – It’s the most abundant positive charge in our bodies, and it helps balance fluids and helps our cells get the nutrients they need. 

Next, there’s magnesium. This positive charged ion helps turn nutrients into energy and is super important for our brain and muscles to do their thing. 

Potassium is also a positive charged ion and it teams up with sodium to keep our hearts pumping strong. 

Calcium is another positive charge player. It’s all about muscle control, helps our nerves get the message, and even keeps our heart rhythm just right. 

Then we have chloride, the negative charge champ. It’s the second most abundant ion in our bodies and plays a big role in fluid balance and maintaining our pH levels. 

Last but not least, we’ve got phosphate. Another negative charge hero, phosphate helps transport molecules outside our cells and gets our cells energized with the nutrients they need. 

Now, let’s talk symptoms. If your electrolytes are imbalanced, you might experience   

  • Nausea 
  • vomiting 
  • muscle spasms 
  • confusion 
  • Fatigue 
  • weakness 
  • dizziness 
  • irregular heartbeat 
  • seizures

Not something you want to experience while working on a worksite with heavy machinery and dangerous tools, right? 

We get electrolytes from our diet, but we lose them through sweat. The more we sweat, the more we need to replenish. When you’re on the job, it can be tempting to push through fatigue or ignore refilling your drink, but that’s dangerous. Those symptoms of electrolyte imbalance? They’re dangerous all on their own. And when you’re working in high places or around heavy machinery, that danger level goes up for you and everyone around you. 

How can you make sure you’re getting enough electrolytes? Keep a water bottle filled with a top-notch electrolyte mixture by your side at all times.

PRO TIP: if you’re not sweating, it could be a bad sign. Sweating is how our bodies cool down, and electrolytes play a huge role in that process. If you’re dehydrated or low on electrolytes, your body won’t sweat, and that means it can’t cool itself down. So, even if you’re not sweating, make sure you’re drinking water and replenishing those electrolytes.  

A well-rounded, healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables is the best way to maintain those electrolyte levels in the long run. 

Lastly, our kidneys are responsible for monitoring and maintaining electrolyte balance. If you have any kidney issues, your needs may be different. Talk to your doctor about how to keep everything in check and functioning smoothly. 

All in all, electrolytes are vital to keep our body’s balanced. Keeping yourself hydrated and replenished can make the difference when working in heat.   

What is HEAT STRESS? Learn more here.

Read more about how to prevent heat stress on a worksite here and about acclimating to the heat here.

Are you a visual learner? Watch our expert-led webinar on Heat Stress on Worksites HERE.

Browse our heat stress products HERE.

Sources

  1. https://www.safeopedia.com/electrolytes-what-they-are-and-why-they-matter-for-on-the-job-hydration/2/6745 
  1. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/electrolytes.html 
  1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes 
Construction worker wearing personal fall protection harness attaching a snap hook to a pole on the construction site. The sun is setting in the background.

Jump into the ABCD’s of Fall Protection

by with No Comment Fall Protection

– according to OSHA 

When it comes to working at heights, we need some serious protection. Falls are the top OSHA violation (2), and they can lead to some pretty nasty injuries or even death. Fall protection is a bit more complicated than just slapping on some run-of-the-mill PPE. It requires training, attention to detail, and a whole lot of care.

There are many types of fall protection (learn more about them in our related blog post here) but the most common and complicated is the Personal Fall Arrest System. Personal Fall Arrest Systems are designed to catch you should you fall and have several components in order to function.  To understand these symptoms, we can remember the ABCDs of Fall Protection.

A is for Anchorages – these keep your fall arrest system securely in place. They need to be independent of any anchors used to suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5000 lbs per worker or twice the expected impact load.

B is for body support – Usually a full body harness that evenly distributes fall force across your legs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders. The harness provides a connection point, the D-ring that attaches to the connecting devices (connectors).

C is for connectors – These are all the components that keep you attached to the anchor point.

  • Snap Hooks: must be locking type and designed to prevent disengagement from any component part of the personal fall arrest system . They keep the system together.
  • Horizontal and Vertical Lifelines: they are the line of connection to the anchor point. They must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000lbs.
  • Self Retracting Lifelines and Lanyards: Able to stretch, extend and retract but on the onset of a fall, the device locks and stop the fall. Those that limit free fall to 2 feet or less must be capable of sustaining a minimum load of 3000lbs. Those that do not limit free fall to 2 feet or less must sustain a minimum load of 5000 pounds.

D is for descent and rescue plans – If someone takes a fall, there must be a plan to rescue that worker. OSHA has got a handy checklist to help prepare for any rescue mission. 

Remember, falls can be seriously dangerous – and we don’t take danger lightly. That’s why we’re here at Safetyvibe to provide you with all the top-notch fall protection gear you need. Trust our expertise and let us make your workplace safe and comfy for all your employees. 

Browse our fall protection HERE.

Learn how to determine if your worksite needs fall protection here.