With summertime comes hot weather and high humidity; conditions making it difficult to work at jobs requiring significant exertion. Of course, the manufacturing world relies on the physical efforts of their workers, so safety during summer becomes paramount. Your organization needs to ensure its employees stay hydrated and cool during these warm months of the year.
With a goal of workplace safety during the heat of summer, check out these useful tips for your employees. Your goal needs to be preventing heat stress injuries, dehydration, and heat stroke in the factory and outside. Use these insights to ensure your manufacturing team stays healthy from June through September.
Hydration is the Key to Safe Workplace in Summer
Ensure all your manufacturing workers stay sufficiently hydrated during the summer, especially when physically active. Tell them to shoot for drinking at least 5 to 7 ounces of water every 15 minutes. Always carrying an attached water bottle serves as a reminder to take a drink. Also provide easy access to cold water for outside workers.
Not All Liquids Are Created Equal
Remember that water or a sports drink, like Gatorade, provide more benefits compared to other liquid potables. Make sure your team avoids coffee, tea, and caffeinated soft drinks. They potentially cause more harm than their minimal hydration benefits. Of course, alcohol never belongs on any manufacturing site.
Ensure Your Team Takes Regular Breaks
You naturally want your manufacturing team to stay engaged and productive throughout their workday. However, working in the summertime heat requires a safer approach. Require your work teams to take regular breaks to ensure everyone stays safe. Each worker needs to understand their own personal limits and rest when necessary.
Combining rest time with a water break – preferably in an air-conditioned space – helps foster worker safety. Schedule these breaks to still maintain a high productivity level. Remember that overworked employees tend to become less productive over time.
Understand The Signs of Heat-Related Illness
Teach your supervisors how to recognize the signs of heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses. Make sure your employees feel comfortable in speaking up when they start to feel any adverse heat-related effects. A proactive approach is a must so everyone stays safe. In the end, the health of your employees matters more than your productivity.
Are You Looking For Manufacturing Talent?
If your company needs to add manufacturing talent, connect with the team at Synerfac. As one of the top general staffing agencies in the country, we provide the exceptional candidates to help your business thrive. Contact us to discuss your current hiring needs.