It’s summer, which means it’s hot. People who work in construction have to worry about stress, being too tired, and not drinking enough water. While some of us are sitting at computers in offices with air conditioning, many workers are doing their jobs outside in the sun, far from any fans or air conditioners. As a contractor or business owner, it’s important to make sure your employees and workers don’t get heat exhaustion during these hotter months by following the right rules.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a lot of rules, but if you follow the tips in this article, you’ll have more than enough support and protection to keep everyone safe on the job. Prevention is always the key. Ask yourself, “What do I do every day to make sure the safety of my construction workers?” If you don’t already have one, make a full plan to prevent heat illness at work if you don’t already have one. Start by learning about the signs and risks of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. You should also teach your employees about these things. It’s not enough for managers and foremen to know what a symptom looks like.

Everyone needs to make sure that everyone else stays safe at all times. Workers should be taught how to tell when a coworker is feeling dizzy, confused, thirsty, sweating too much, or having seizures. Once everyone has been trained and employees know how dangerous it is to be exposed to too much heat, you can start making your workplace safer. Start off the summer by giving everyone plenty of water to drink and encouraging them to also bring their own bottles. Buy coolers to store bottles of water or to pass out water as needed. To stay properly hydrated, each worker should drink at least a quart of water per hour. Adding sports drink mix or electrolyte tabs to the water coolers can help on really hot days. This will help workers make up for what they lose when they sweat while on the job. Don’t let your workers drink too much soda or other drinks that will slow them down during the day.

Give workers shade so they can take breaks and get out of the sun. Workers need shade to make it through a hot day and to cool down when they are sick. Don’t be afraid to give workers a break from the sun by setting up a site trailer or a well-ventilated area. Stay ahead of the weather forecast and take extra precautions as the weather gets hotter. Remind your workers to wear clothes that help them stay cool, unless they need to wear protective clothing. When it’s really hot, talk to your workers about switching to a different schedule. This will help them be more productive and safe on the job site. Keep an eye on the heat index and be an advocate for your employees’ safety. As the day goes on and the index goes up, tell them to take breaks, drink water, and spend time in the shade.

Every business should have a plan to protect its employees from the heat. Work smarter, not harder, to make it through the summer. This article has tips on how to stay cool while working in construction during the summer.

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