Tips on Keeping Cool at the Jobsite (for Electricians) (and all Trades)

Let’s face it. We don’t normally get to pick and choose the environments in which we get to perform our electrical trade. And, depending on the part of the country where you live/work, some of those areas can be brutal in the summertime when it comes to the heat. I know here in Texas, temperatures can be well over 100 degrees in the shade! In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin gives some tips and pointers on how you can combat the effects of working out in the heat.

🤘⚡️MEMBERSHIP⚡️🤘
JOIN ELECTRICIAN U - become a member and get:
FREE Continuing Education every year
FREE Practice Exams
FREE Monthly Video Courses
FREE Monthly Educational Newsletter
Premium Members-Only Content
Private Discord Channel
Monthly Members-Only Discord Chats
Sign up here --- https://www.electricianu.com/electrician-u-membership/

🎧🎹MUSIC AND VIDEO:🎹🎧
https://www.facebook.com/descantmv

🎬✍️ART AND ILLUSTRATION:✍️🎬
https://www.daverussoart.com

The clothing you wear can have a huge impact on how your body reacts to rising temperatures. If you were to wear shorts, T shirts, and tennis shoes, you would probably feel much more comfortable than in the full pants, shirt, and boots most of us are required to wear. But OSHA is the driving force behind what you can wear and what you cannot. In fact, they put the responsibility on the Employer to define what is safe/appropriate to wear to work. Some employers are fine with the employee wearing shorts, T shirts, and tennis shoes if they are working Inside on a smaller project (like a house for example).
If you are like most of us, pants are what we normally don to go to work. This provides a level of protection to your lower body that shorts cannot. Long sleeve shirts also offer some protection to the upper body. The things we, in the construction industry, do during the course of the day require some form of protection to our bodies. Drilling in metal/wood with shavings flying around, crawling around in attics or crawlspaces, and working with some unforgiving materials and tools to name a few. In addition, covering your body with clothing also keeps it out of the suns damaging rays. There are many different forms of fabric that offer some form of UV protection, are lightweight and breathable, have sweat wicking ability, etc., but even cotton can provide some of these benefits as well. Some form of covering on your head is also helpful.
Don’t neglect your feet when you are dressing for the warm weather. Make sure you select a good pair of work boots that suit your needs as well as the appropriate socks! While cotton socks are lightweight consider a pair of wool boot sock to help wick some of that sweat away. Your boots should be selected with the amount of physical protection you need in addition to any other items you may be looking for (ankle support for example). They should also be sturdy, and you shouldn’t have to replace them every couple of months!
Safety glasses/sunglasses are something else to consider. There are tinted safety glasses available, but at a minimum, consider wearing a pair of inexpensive sunglasses if working out in the sun. You won’t be squinting as much, and they can help keep things from getting into your eyes.
Of course, sunscreen is very helpful in keeping you from getting burned. Either the spray or lotion types are perfectly fine, and if you can find some that is sweatproof, even better! Water consumption is something that should NOT be overlooked. If you are exerting yourself, a reasonable gauge is to start at a gallon a day and go up from there. And while sports type drinks are helpful, nothing can replace good old water! Keep some in a cooler reasonably close to you in the hot months and drink that water frequently.
Many companies offer products that are self-cooling. Things like towels, do rags, hard hats, etc. These items should not be overlooked as they can be a big help in keeping you cooled down.
Make sure to check out the entire video to catch ALL the tips Dustin talks about.

#electrician #electrical #ppe