What's New in ISSA with Technical Director Bob Jerman- August 2023

What a difference three months makes!  When I last “spoke” to all of you, we were experiencing absolutely beautiful Spring weather here in Charleston.  That seems like a lifetime ago, at this point.  We’re experiencing heat index values of 110-120˚F now and, after talking with some of you, I know that other areas are even hotter.  This time of year brings special challenges to those areas experiencing these kinds of environmental conditions, along with the need to pay close attention to the health and safety of our most valuable resource, our teams.  Without healthy teams, successful project work isn’t possible.

The good news is that all illnesses from these types of conditions are preventable.  The bad news is that the latest report that I was able to access from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicates that thousands of heat-related illnesses and multiple fatalities are still occurring in the paving industry annually.  The majority of fatalities occur with new employees and/or when workers are in the first several days in hot environments and their bodies haven’t yet built a tolerance to the heat.  In doing my background search for this article, I found a tremendous amount of information on this subject on the internet, as well as practical application knowledge from a veteran pavement preservation contractor.  While it’s important for you to do your own research and implement proper safe practices to protect yourself and your employees, I can point out a few highlights to help you initiate that culture on your team.

Most of us are familiar with the terms heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke.  While all are to be taken seriously and can lead to dangerous consequences if not addressed, heat stroke is an immediate medical emergency.  It is important that you have someone on each crew properly trained to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and have a plan to respond accordingly when necessary. 

There a quite a few options to help in the prevention of heat-related illnesses.   While this “list” is not all inclusive, please consider implementing a majority of them to keep your most valuable resources safe.

First, hydration is critical, keep everyone supplied with water and electrolytes (Gatorade, electrolyte sleeves, hydration magnifiers, etc); frequent opportunities for breaks/rest periods (in the shade, in air conditioned vehicles at the signs of any heat-related illness, umbrellas mounted on the machine when safe to do so); supply the crew with “cooling gear/apparel” (cooling caps, cooling towels, wrist wraps, they even have cooling vests now, wide brimmed hats); and paving schedule changes (when possible, pave at night and/or early in the day). 

It's important for those in leadership positions with your field personnel to meet with them weekly to remind them of the need to utilize these safe practices to avoid heat-related illnesses.  Then, following up in the field, remind your crew leaders to remain vigilant in observing each crew member’s physical condition throughout the day.  Hopefully, when each team member also makes every effort to implement all aspects of your summer safety program, everyone will remain healthy and project work will move forward as planned.  

"Every day is a gift!  Never take a single one for granted!"

Sincerely,

Bob Jerman

ISSA Technical Director