WEEK 1: Heat Exhaustion/Heatstroke
During summer months we can be exposed to heat exhaustion. Excessive heat causes accidents in many ways. It becomes more difficult to concentrate on the job, you sweat, you get tired and nervous, and begin making errors in judgment. When the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, everyone needs to be aware of the danger signs.
Guide for Discussion How to prevent heat exhaustion:
Avoid consuming alcohol and ice water while working.
Drink plenty of cool fluids; citrus or fruit juices work best.
Avoid heavy, fatty-type foods.
Wear light, loose clothing.
Avoid fatigue; get plenty of rest.
Replace lost body salts.
See a doctor if you are not feeling well.
How to recognize heat exhaustion:
A person is dazed, staggers or becomes dizzy.
There is a feeling of nausea or vomiting; the person also can feel chilly.
Their face looks pale.
There is a weak pulse and body temperature is below normal.
A person is lying out unconscious.
What to do:
Call for emergency medical assistance.
Keep the victim lying down with their head lower than their feet.
Loosen the victim’s clothing.
Keep the victim warm. (Remember, one of the results is the person feels chilly.)
Give fluids if possible.
Avoid ice water and alcohol.
Salt solutions are best.
WEEK 2: UV Skin Protection
At one time or another we’ve all had a bad sunburn and we know how bad it can hurt. In addition, prolonged, unprotected exposure can damage your skin and cause premature lines, freckles, sun spots, and skin cancer.
UV rays react with a chemical called melanin that’s found in most people’s skin, The lighter a person’s natural skin color, the less melanin it has to absorb UV and protect itself.
The best way to protect your skin from UV light is by wearing a sunscreen when you are outside. Here are some sunscreen facts and tips:
- Using sunscreen can reduce your chances of burning but it is not going to allow you to spend unlimited time outdoors without risk of skin damage.
- Sunscreen must absorb into the skin to be effective. Apply it about 30 minutes prior to going into the sun so as to let the sunscreen absorb into the skin.
- It is widely recommended that people use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15-30. An SPF of 30 can block up to 97% of the harmful UV rays. Going higher than 30 on SPF hasn’t shown to make a positive difference.
- Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 60-90 minutes, sooner if you’re in the water. (This is true even if you use “waterproof” sunscreen, as it is not truly waterproof, just water resistant.).
- Not all sunscreens protect you from UVA and UVB light. Use one that is protects the skin from both.
- You can get a sunburn through your clothes! For example, a white t-shirt gives only the same protection as a sunscreen with an SPF of 5. And it’s even less effective if it is wet
Week 3- Five Senses Safety
As most of us are aware, that we, if we’re fortunate, have been given five senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste). For the purposes of being pertinent to our specific job site, we will only be discussing sight, hearing, smell and touch. Each of these can be used to protect us from danger or injury.
Sight, is of course the most common of the senses that are used on the job to sense danger. The problem is, when we are so focused on our own specific task, we fail to look around at the big picture. We need to always be attentive, while walking through the site, in looking for any possible unsafe or hazardous conditions. When these conditions are observed it is each individuals responsibility to fix them. If we cannot fix them on our own then we should immediately report it to our supervisor. But, at no time, should we leave the condition unattended.
Hearing, Let’s now look at another option, hearing. Although, it may be easier to see dangers than to hear them, we can hear warning signals all around us. Not just in one direction. Nearly all construction sites are filled with multiple sounds. From the heavy equipment with their loud diesel engines, to the hammering of a rotary hammer drilling through concrete. Always stay audibly alert.
Now comes the time when all those wearing hearing protection say. “What if I can’t hear, the demo saw breaking down, with these earplugs in my ears”?
Touch, Well then, maybe we could use our sense of touch. Not only will most tools and equipment give us an auditory warning, but the feel of most of these items will change in our very hands when they are breaking down. For example, if your demo saw or drill motor starts to rattle or vibrate more than usual, take it out of service and have it looked at before continuing on with the task and placing the tool back in service. Sense of touch, is usually only useful with hands on work but, can be extremely useful in preventing injuries.
I know what you’re thinking. Not all dangers can be seen, heard or felt. What then?
Sense of smell could be used in case of a hand held power tool motor letting of a burning smell to gas leaks. Both natural gas and propane are used on this job site and both have a distinctive rotten egg smell from a chemical additive called “mercaptan”, just so people can smell them. Now, as stated before, if you observe a hazard, fix it. If you notice a burning smell coming from your grinder, immediately take it out of service until it has been repaired. If you cannot find the source of a gas leak or fix the problem, notify your supervisor so the leak can be repaired quickly by someone competent to do so. Once again, never leave a hazard unattended.
Week 4- H2O
In summer weather and other hot, humid working conditions, drinking enough water is vital to preventing heat illness. The most serious illness, heat stroke, can be fatal. It occurs when the body’s cooling system fails because of moisture and minerals lost to sweating. To prevent heat illness under hot work conditions
- Wear clothing that allows air circulation
- If possible, try to stay out of the sun
- Take breaks when you can and drink water frequently.
Don’t drink a large quantity of water at once, just keep on sipping. Drinking enough water helps keep the body’s digestive and elimination systems working properly. What is enough water? Eight glasses (eight fluid ounces or about .25 of a liter each) is probably as good a starting point as any. Drinking other beverages and eating waterlogged produce such as lettuce also supplies some of your water requirements. Then adjust your water intake for what seems right for you.
Clear urine, a regular digestive system and supple skin are signs of adequate fluid intake. Headache can be a sign of dehydration, so try drinking water before you pop a pill.
Now, about that old water bottle. If it’s just an old soft-drink container, replace it with one intended for repeated use. Maybe you should get two so one can go in the dishwasher every so often. Try not to handle the bottle, particularly the top, unless your hands are clean.
Plenty of clean water to drink is a privilege enjoyed by workers in this country, with few exceptions. So enjoy drinking your fill for good health.