With summer quickly approaching, staying cool is a top priority for surveyors. The need to spend hours out in the Texas sun adds to the danger of getting dehydrated or experiencing symptoms of heat stroke. Here are some tips for staying cool this summer.
Beat the Heat: Best Practices
According to OSHA, professionals working outdoors must take special precautions to avoid catching the worst of the sun’s rays. Exposure to high heat may cause body temperature to rise rapidly, potentially causing heat stroke. In severe cases, heat stroke can cause serious injury and even death, so it is critical to get prompt medical care if heat stroke is suspected. Heat exhaustion, which is less severe than heat stroke, plagues millions each year, particularly surveyors. Follow these tips to stay cool in the heat of the day:
- Wear the right clothing. Loose-fitting clothing in light colors is the best preparation for surveyors. With many land professionals preferring cotton, the proper clothing can prevent heat exhaustion and sunburn.
- Use sunscreen. Any exposed areas of skin, including the head, hands and arms, should be protected with sunscreen. Depending on your environment, sunscreen with more than 30 SPF may be necessary.
- Bring a hat. Regardless of your hairstyle, wearing a hat will protect your head from getting sunburned, while reducing the amount of water lost through perspiration.
- Use sunglasses. As necessary tools for any surveyor, eyes are deserving of protection. Harmful UV rays penetrate the eyes resulting in damage or scarring. If not corrected, partial or total vision loss may occur over time. Use UV absorbing sunglasses while working to protect your eyes.
- Keep your feet covered. Whether you plan to be in the field for an hour or 6, keeping your feet and ankles covered helps maintain comfort while working. Wear both socks and boots to protect your feet from hidden dangers and prevent sunburns.
- Drink water regularly. Dehydration sets in quickly if you are not drinking water on a consistent basis. Often, surveyors wait until they are thirsty to drink water. Unfortunately, when thirst begins, the body has already been deprived of water too long. Avoid diuretics, like caffeine, and sip cool water throughout the day.
- Take breaks. Wearing the right clothing and drinking water can prevent heat exhaustion, but periodic breaks from the summer sun are also critical to staying safe.
Keep Cool and Hydrated
Awareness of your surroundings and changes in temperature will prepare you to adjust behavior and work patterns accordingly. Surveyors in a supervisory role should check in with workers regularly to look for signs of heat exhaustion. Stick to these tips to keep you and your crew cool this summer.
* Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
