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Staying Safe During Warm Weather Crushing

Staying Safe During Warm Weather Crushing

As the summer months roll in, bringing higher temperatures and more sun exposure with it, operating portable crushing and screening plants at outdoor locations can become more demanding and introduce new safety hazards to team members.

Physical harms due to the weather, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even sunburns, are all preventable given the proper training and planning. It is important to exercise the correct preparations to preventing these harms so you and your crew can stay healthy and up and crushing.

Hydration, hydration, hydration

As you’ve probably heard before, hydration is key to reducing hot weather dangers. According to the CDC, it is recommended that team members drink water at least every 15 minutes to avoid dehydration, even if they are not thirsty, as heat illness may not be immediately apparent. While working in the heat, the water will maintain hydration so long as you are continuing to eat regular meals. This helps replace any salt that is lost through sweating. Energy drinks and alcohol place additional strain and dehydrate, so it’s recommended that if you are going to choose a drink other than water, to use sports drinks. Sports drinks can also help with the loss of salt but they can add more calories than drinking water and eating regular meals.

Personal Protective Equipment

It is recommended that team members wear a hat to protect the head from heat and light-colored clothing to reflect the sun more easily. While operating crushing equipment generally requires the use of a hard hat, consider a full-brim variety as well as a neck shade to reduce sun exposure.  Likewise, wearing long-sleeved, lightweight clothing that covers as much skin from the sun can go a long way in protecting team members from heat illness. If long-sleeved, lightweight clothing are not an option, it can be helpful to apply sunscreen or sunblock on areas of the body that remain unprotected.

Take a break

When possible, take a break to avoid overexertion. While taking a break it is important to seek out shade or air conditioning to allow the body to cool down.

Work together

It’s important to be mindful of each other’s health on the job site by helping in identifying and resolving any heat-related issues that team members might experience, like headaches, dizziness, thirst, etc. Together, you want to remain as healthy as possible so that your operation is not impacted by the warm weather.

For more information about warm weather crushing safety preparations

We encourage you to review recommendations from agencies like OSHA, MSHA, or relevant state or local health and safety administrations, or contact Eagle Crusher to speak with a Team Eagle representative. Together, we will stay healthy and crushing it.

This article does not serve as an official safety recommendation by Eagle Crusher and should not be viewed as such. All relevant staff should consult their owner’s manual before operating Eagle Crusher equipment, or any other manufacturer’s equipment, and comply with the safety guidelines therein.