Summer safety

It’s been an especially hot summer this year, with communities across large parts of the U.S. facing extreme heat advisories for much of June and July. In the face of such dangerously high temperatures, dehydration and the fatigue and mental fog that can stem from it pose a significant threat to personnel working in the waste and recycling industry.

Jim Olson, a former vice president of safety for Phoenix-based Republic Services who now serves as an advisor for a hydration company, co-wrote an article with Mark Paulsen, founder of nutritional supplements company Wilderness Athlete, on the hidden threat of dehydration for Construction & Demolition Recycling.

Inadequate hydration doesn’t just cause cramps and overheating, Olson says, it threatens workers’ focus, slows their reaction time and sharply impairs their ability to make quick, sound decisions. In short, dehydration is a major contributing factor to accidents on the job, and not just in summer but year-round.

The recycling industry has come a long way in cutting down on preventable injuries with high-visibility gear, better vehicle safety tech and solid training programs, and supervisors can take several practical steps to prevent dehydration, Olson says:

• educating workers to spot the early signs of dehydration, like feeling wiped out, getting a headache or losing focus;
• encouraging sipping water throughout the day, not just chugging it during breaks;
• offering high-quality hydration options that replace key electrolytes lost through sweat;
• monitoring workers more closely during heatwaves and on high-exertion routes; and
• recommending workers begin hydrating before their shifts begin.

Even small cues such as adding a reminder during preshift safety talks can be beneficial. For instance, a simple, “Hey, grab some water before you head out,” can build good habits over time, Olson says.

Encouraging hydration is a small change that can help keep everyone sharp, safe and performing his or her best all season long.

You can read Olson and Paulsen’s full story, “Dehydration is a hidden threat to safety,” on our website at www.cdrecycler.com.