Prevention
Planning outdoor work during hot weather on construction sites
Build hot weather into your crews’ pre-task planning, schedules and supervision on jobsites and remote civil work fronts. Keep the current conditions and your safety manager’s review in view.
By Reldro · · 1 min read
Heat is a planning issue
For your subcontractor crews, use this guidance with the current work phase, trade responsibilities and approved procedures in view. Keep your safety manager involved in record reviews and follow-up. This guidance supports record keeping and coordination, not technical authorization to carry out the work.
Heat stress builds gradually and people often do not notice it in themselves. Treating it as a scheduling and planning question works better than relying on individuals to stop.
Build it into the plan
Add heat to the pre-task plan when forecasts call for it.
- Schedule heavy work for cooler hours
- Arrange shade, water and rest breaks
- Check on new or returning workers more often
- Agree what signs mean someone stops work
Brief the crew
A short toolbox talk at the start of hot days reminds crews of the signs and the arrangements in place.
The takeaway
Forecast heat, plan for it in scheduling and pre-task plans, and make it normal to stop early.