Why you must remind workers to drink water in high temperatures

Take note: Even when you provide water to crew members laboring in high temperatures, they might not consume the water – that’s why it’s important to remind staffers to drink at least one cup of water every 20 minutes when they’re working in high heat.

That’s your takeaway from a recent study conducted by the University of New Mexico. The study involved 32 construction workers at a jobsite who were given pills that monitored their body temperatures for three workdays in July.

According to the results, more than 60% of the crew members showed up at the site dehydrated, even though the employer provided unlimited access to water and coached the staffers on the importance of adequate hydration in high heat.

The researchers also found that participants were at risk for heat stress even when the air temperature wasn’t especially high. For instance, 43% of the monitored staff members had an internal body temperature of at least 100.4ºF when the ambient temperature at the jobsite was no higher than 88ºF.

(From the April 22, 2024, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)