Get Equipped!

Summer Heat On The Job

Keep Your Cool While Working Outdoors

Summer’s clearly not done with us yet. As of this writing, record breaking temperatures were coming in 15˚ above average and spiking above 100˚ in searing heat from Texas across to Florida. For landscapers, this can be downright dangerous. Follow these heat safety measures, stay hydrated, and look into the benefits of acclimatization and cooling PPE. Here are other items that can help your crew stay cool. Dickies Temp-iQ® 365 Long Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt Fortify your workwear with performance driven solutions in Dickies Temp-iQ® 365 Long Sleeve Tee. This all-season tee is backed by innovative Temp-iQ® 365 technology designed to maintain the ideal microclimate between you and your workwear all year round. The advanced body temperature control traps heat when you’re cold and releases heat when you are warm, making this long sleeve tee the ultimate foundation to finish any shift strong. Plus, you’ll achieve superior sun protection with UPF 40+ and thumbholes for added coverage, as well as an anti-odor finish that keeps you feeling fresh all day. Doubling down on protection, the drop tail hem gives you more coverage in the back, while side vents allow for optimal breathability. Designed to maximize mobility, the underarm gusset makes reaching and climbing a breeze. Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets & Powders I was introduced to Nuun tablets by my father, an avid cyclist, a few years ago and am now addicted. It seems the rest of the world has now discovered them as well. Simply drop these slightly fizzy flavored solutions ...

Worker Heat Safety: Creating An Outdoor Cooling Station

cooling
On National Hydration Day (June 23) last month, Turf posted tips from Magid on the importance of hydration in beating heat related illnesses. But as summer temperatures soar, there’s more to keeping employees cool beyond essential water and electrolyte-replacing drinks. According to Magid, here are other aspects an employee cooling station or heat safety program should include: The lightest PPE that provides protection. Body-cooling gear, like conductive/phase change cooling vests or evaporative vests. Even cold, wet towels can provide relief at a low cost. But they need to be rotated after one to two minutes so workers can get the most cooling potential out of them. One study found that towels that were not rotated after one to two minutes became warmer and kept core temperatures the same or made them even warmer than before. Frequent breaks in the shade. Pop-up utility tents can also provide shade for a specific area if no natural shade is available. Mist-fans, portable evaporative coolers, and regular fans can aid cooling. Water dousing with a cool water source such as a water bottle, hose, or a shower can be used to help workers wet their skin and cool down. A 2019 study found that water dousing reduced thermal and cardiovascular strain in hot and humid conditions as well as hot and dry conditions, too. Extremity immersion (dipping hands or arms into ice water) can be done with a container the size of a water cooler and was shown to lower core temperature and heart rate ...

Worker Heat Safety: Creating An Outdoor Cooling Station

On National Hydration Day (June 23) last month, Turf posted tips from Magid on the importance of hydration in beating heat related illnesses. But as summer temperatures soar, there’s more to keeping employees cool beyond essential water and electrolyte-replacing drinks. According to Magid, here are other aspects an employee cooling station or heat safety program should include: The lightest PPE that provides protection. Body-cooling gear, like conductive/phase change cooling vests or evaporative vests. Even cold, wet towels can provide relief at a low cost. But they need to be rotated after one to two minutes so workers can get the most cooling potential out of them. One study found that towels that were not rotated after one to two minutes became warmer and kept core temperatures the same or made them even warmer than before. Frequent breaks in the shade. Pop-up utility tents can also provide shade for a specific area if no natural shade is available. Mist-fans, portable evaporative coolers, and regular fans can aid cooling. Water dousing with a cool water source such as a water bottle, hose, or a shower can be used to help workers wet their skin and cool down. A 2019 study found that water dousing reduced thermal and cardiovascular strain in hot and humid conditions as well as hot and dry conditions, too. Extremity immersion (dipping hands or arms into ice water) can be done with a container the size of a water cooler and was shown to lower core temperature and heart rate ...