‘Being prepared is really the key’: Construction workers, mail carriers prepare for hot weather
A hot forecast in the coming days has people who work outside switching gears. Construction workers and mail carriers preparing to beat the heat and get the job done. Construction workers and mail carriers are preparing for hot weather, with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDT KC district safety and health manager Eric Ramsey) stating that staying out of direct sunlight and staying hydrated can make a difference for crews working on highways. The agency will shift construction projects so crews can start earlier in the morning and end before the hottest parts of the day. Workers are given coolers with bottled water and popsicles to keep them hydrated throughout the day, and each carrier is equipped with a cooling towel and jugs of water. USPS is also working to update its fleet with air conditioning.
Pubblicato : 11 mesi fa di Nydja Hood in Weather
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A hot forecast in the coming days has people who work outside switching gears. Construction workers and mail carriers preparing to beat the heat and get the job done.
“Just moving a little bit into the shade, we can drop from 124 degrees into the mid to low 80′s on a hot day,” said MoDoT KC district safety and health manager Eric Ramsey.
Small steps like staying out of direct sunlight and staying hydrated the night before can make a big difference for crews working on the highways. As the Missouri Department of Transportation explains, the risk of overheating is something they face every year.
“It happens almost every summer, you know, we have those hot days and they get upon us and being prepared is really the key,” said Ramsey.
The agency will also shift construction projects so crews can start earlier in the morning and end before the hottest parts of the day. Workers are given coolers with bottled water, and popsicles with electrolytes to keep them hydrated throughout the day.
“We encourage our workers to watch out for each other, keep an eye on each other, they know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion,” said Ramsey.
Those signs could include dizziness, a rapid weak pulse, and excessive sweating. This is not to be confused with a heat stroke where someone won’t sweat but could have red, hot, dry skin and lose consciousness. These are risks USPS says they make sure their mail carriers are familiar as well.
“The safety of our letter carriers is our top priority so we make sure they’re well educated, well prepared, and that we follow them throughout the day, make sure we check on them, bring them water if necessary,” said USPS strategic communications specialist Mark Inglett.
He says each carrier is equipped with a cooling towel and jugs of water. There are also hydration stations available in the post office and workers are given hats to protect their heads from the sunlight.
“We train them well, we equip them well, and again, that’s why they do such a great job for us,” said Inglett.
USPS said vehicles without air conditioning have small fans and the organization is working to update its fleet with air conditioning. No definitive timeline on those updates is available at this time.