Risks and safety precautions at high temperatures

It’s the height of summer, the weather is wonderful, and the workday looks promising. The fact that the weather is pleasant does not immediately indicate that it’s dangerous to work. The sun can be relentlessly intense, and in an open or unprotected environment, one must seriously take this into account. The risk of heatstroke is high, especially because its effects start before you even notice. So how to prevent heat stress? When working at heights or in extreme temperatures, you should always take extra precautions. This blog is about that.

Roofs are often made of dark materials that attract, retain, and convert heat. When the job at height is time-consuming, it becomes difficult to minimize exposure to this heat. With prolonged exposure, you run the risk of two forms of heat:

Heat Stress (Overheating)

To prevent heat stress, you need to know how to the recognize it. Heat stress is a combination of exertion while wearing clothing, which causes the body temperature to rise rapidly. This form of overheating often starts with intense sweating and a decrease in concentration.

As the muscles become too warm internally, they will begin to protest, which will hinder your work. Muscle cramps in the arms and legs can be a painful result of rapid fluid loss. The mildest form of heat stress is heat rash. This rash occurs due to prolonged exposure to sweat. Sweat glands become clogged, resulting in itchy and/or burning blisters.

The situation becomes more serious if you suffer from heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is treacherous because it only occurs after stopping physical exertion. Your blood pressure has been disrupted because your body has been working hard to keep vital organs supplied with blood.

Hot day on a roof

When you reduce this exertion, your blood pressure suddenly drops very quickly. You may feel unwell, experience headaches, dizziness, and have an unsteady gait. This is particularly dangerous when working at heights, as the risk of tripping and falling is significantly increased. Heat exhaustion can eventually lead to heat stroke, the most severe and deadly form of heat stress. If your body temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius, your nervous system can become damaged, sometimes permanently. You can recognize heat stroke, or sunstroke, by symptoms such as cramps, seizures, confused behavior, and ultimately, loss of consciousness.

What about heat radiation from the roof?

Roofing material (such as bitumen) is dark in color and absorbs light into heat. On a day with a temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius, the temperature of bitumen can reach up to 70.8 degrees Celsius, more than twice the outside temperature at that moment. During work, ensure that your body does not come into contact with these roofs, as you can easily burn yourself on them.

With this weather, be extra cautious about sunburn, the red glow on the skin caused by prolonged exposure to the sun without proper protection. Sunburn is not only very painful and uncomfortable but also extremely dangerous. Extensive sunburn and heat radiation significantly increase the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, when starting your workday at height, make sure to apply sunscreen thoroughly and repeat this regularly.

Temperature differences on roofing materials

Can’t the job wait? Use these practical tips for working at height in Extreme Heat:

Choose the right gear 

For example, wear heat-protective clothing. There are special cooling garments such as cooling vests, wristbands, and headgear that can be dampened before use or contain cool packs. Another option is to wear light-colored clothing. While dark clothing absorbs light and converts it into heat, light clothing reflects light, preventing heat from being retained. Cotton clothing is breathable and hardly traps heat, making it ideal for keeping cool on hot days. Wear sunglasses to prevent being blinded by the sun, which again reduces the risk of falling from heights.

Never work alone

Preferably, work in pairs so you can keep an eye on each other. Listen carefully to your body! Drink and eat enough, and apply a good sunscreen. Prevent heat stress means dehydration—your body relies on fluids. It’s important to stay well-hydrated for protection against the sun. Avoid alcohol when working at heights; save it for when the job is done and you’re safely down or at home.

Shelter

Despite good preparation, it’s important to take occasional breaks to go indoors or find some shade. Enjoy a cold drink and take sufficient rest before resuming work.

Use sunscreen for Skin Protection

A sunstroke usually begins with sunburn. If the skin is exposed to intense sunlight for an extended period, it may absorb too much heat. Use plenty of sunscreen on body parts that are exposed to the sun. Preferably, wear long pants and/or a long-sleeved shirt.

Even during hot temperatures, it may be necessary to install or inspect a fall protection system. In such conditions, it is especially important that the fall protection solution requires minimal installation time, allowing you or your colleagues to quickly leave the roof once the work is completed.

XSPlatforms and its’ certified partners offers various solutions with easy installation, ranging from guardrails and lifelines to anchor points Please contact XSPlatforms via [email protected], call us at +31 (0)183 56 91 11 or reach out to one of our consultants via one of these forms. We and our partners have years of experience in fall protection solutions and can provide more information on safety, installation, assembly, and inspection.

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