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06/01/2007
Safety & Education Committee Update
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
It was only 11:00 a.m. and we were already on our fifth 20’ section. In addition to the 100 feet of stacked steel, we also completed one pull point and a star mount with 9 lines in total. We were always fairly fast in the air as we made every attempt to erect as much steel as possible, but on this day we wanted to stack as much as possible before breaking for lunch. Why? It was July in Stillwater, Oklahoma and at 11:00 a.m. in Oklahoma, it gets hot. July has always been viewed as one of the hotter months of the year, especially in the South where the humidity can raise the temperature enough to melt asphalt or burn the skin right off your body. The one thing that can make a hot July day worse is having 25 straight hot July days with temperatures well into the hundreds. Oklahoma was breaking record after record this year for the most days in a row over 100 degrees. I had recently left the comforts of the cool Ohio River to go to Oklahoma to do what I do best -- stack steel. Growing up in Albuquerque I had worked my share of 100-plus-degree days, but what I didn’t know was how to survive with 100% humidity in the Oklahoma plains.
As was typical for a hot 108 degree day, we were working in leather gloves, steel-toed wolverines, wrangler shorts, and white t-shirts embraced by our trusty climbing belts. I was up top today taking a break from behind the double-drum working on instructing one of our newer tower technicians from Indiana. At least that was my excuse, because no matter how hot it was in the air, it was always hotter on the ground. At least in the air you had the chance of catching that ever elusive cool breeze to cool you down. With each tower section came two grunt bags complete with flange bolts, Gatorade, water and oranges. The Gatorade was always quickly finished while the water was used by pouring it on our heads in an effort to keep our body temperatures down to a manageable level. Each section of bright galvanized steel was so intensely hot that the touch of it on bare skin would create a contact burn that you would not soon forget. The downfall of being in the air was that in many cases you relied on using your legs to support or hold yourself and work. With weather that necessitated the need to wear shorts, your legs took quite a beating against the blistering steel. It was common practice to use a knee as a brace to support the 150-pound torque arms of the star mounts as the bolts were nudged into place with a spud and 3-pound sledge. Swelling would form on our knees as we supported our weight off the tower to complete the guy lines. There was always a good side to look forward to; on the ground I would reward individuals by letting them drive the air-conditioned worktruck as we pulled each guy- line out to the anchors with a pork-chop and sling tied to the hitch. It was hot alright, I felt like a fish that had jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
From civil crews to tower technicians, we all work in a wide variety of hot, or hot and humid environments. Feeling hot, or ill at ease, is not the biggest problem with construction that is performed in high temperature and humidity. Crews who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face other avoidable hazards to their health and safety. That is why it is important for employers to provide detailed instructions on preventive measures and adequate protection necessary to prevent heat stress injuries. With the help from information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health I will provide some basic symptoms and precautions needed to diagnose and possibly protect yourself and your crew.
How do we handle heat?
As humans we are warm blooded and maintain a fairly constant internal temperature. To keep our internal body temperature within safe limits, the body must get rid of excess heat. This is accomplished with the release of fluid onto the skin by the sweat glands. These automatic responses usually occur when the temperature of the blood exceeds 98.6 degrees. If heat loss is not adequate the brain senses the overheating and signals the glands to produce large quantities of sweat onto the skin surface in an effort to lower our internal body temperatures. Evaporation of sweat cools the skin, eliminating some heat from the body. Sweating does not cool the body unless the moisture is removed by evaporation. Under conditions of high humidity, as found in Oklahoma and other Southeastern States, the evaporation of sweat from the skin is decreased and the body's effort to maintain an acceptable body temperature is impaired. With so much blood going to the external surface of the body to keep you cool, relatively less goes to the active muscles, brain, and other internal organs. Thus strength declines, fatigue occurs and alertness and mental capacity can be affected.
Excessive exposure to heat can bring about a variety of heat-induced disorders such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health tells us that heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature control system fails and sweating becomes inadequate. A heat stroke victim's skin is hot, usually dry, red or spotted. Body temperature is usually 105 degrees or higher, and the victim is mentally confused, delirious, perhaps in convulsions, or unconscious. Unless the victim receives quick and appropriate treatment, death can occur. Any person with signs or symptoms of heat stroke requires immediate hospitalization. However, first aid should be immediately administered. This includes moving the victim to a cool area, thoroughly soaking the clothing with water, and vigorously fanning the body to increase cooling. Further treatment at a medical facility should be directed to the continuation of the cooling process and the monitoring of complications which often accompany heat stroke. Early recognition and treatment of heat stroke are the only means of preventing permanent brain damage or death.
Heat exhaustion may resemble the early symptoms of heat stroke. A worker suffering from heat exhaustion still sweats but experiences extreme weakness or fatigue, giddiness, nausea, or headache. In more serious cases, the victim may vomit or lose consciousness. The skin is clammy and moist, the complexion is pale or flushed, and the body temperature is normal or only slightly elevated. In most cases, treatment involves having the victim rest in a cool place and drink plenty of liquids. Victims with mild cases of heat exhaustion usually recover with this treatment. Those with severe cases may require extended care lasting for several days.
Heat cramps are agonizing spasms of the muscles that occur among those who sweat copiously in heat, drink large quantities of water, but do not adequately replace the body's salt loss. Generally affected are the arms, legs, or abdomen, but any tired overworked muscles can be susceptible to cramps. Cramps may occur during or after work hours and can be relieved by drinking salted liquids.
Caution! The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health warns that persons with heart problems or those on a low sodium diet who work in hot environments should consult a physician about what to do under any of the above conditions.
One of the best ways to reduce heat stress on workers is to minimize heat in the workplace. Humans are capable of adjusting to the heat under normal circumstances. Usually it takes about 5 to 7 days, during which time the body’s continued exposure to heat will undergo a series of changes that will make it more endurable. In one day’s work a body may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat. Because so many heat disorders involve excessive dehydration, it is essential that water intake be about equal to the amount of sweat produced.
Individuals exposed to hot conditions generally drink fewer fluids than needed because of an inadequate thirst drive; therefore, do not depend on thirst as a signal of when to drink. Instead, drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish the body’s fluids.
The key to preventing excessive heat stress is educating the employer and worker on the hazards of working in heat and the benefits of implementing proper controls and work practices. The employer should establish a program designed to acclimate workers who must be exposed to hot environments and provide necessary work-rest cycles and water to minimize heat stress.
Be careful and enjoy your summer.
Dale Heath is a member of the NATE Safety & Education Committee and is a Product Line Manager for Andrew Corporation in Euless, Texas. He can be reached at 817-864-4166 or dale.heath@andrew.com.
Dale Heath
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