LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — With triple-digit temperatures in the forecast, workers outside are taking extra precautions to protect themselves from the heat, including adjusting their working hours and taking frequent breaks.
Monica Taher, vice president of business development at Avanti Green Eco Cleaning said employees are prepped for the hot conditions right before summer starts. Not only are employees equipped with a hat, sunglasses, and a cooling uniform, but each vehicle is equipped with a cooler full of water and electrolytes.
“Besides home and office cleaning, we do pressure washing and window cleaning and those two jobs are absolutely grueling simply because you’re working under the sun,” Taher said.
She also keeps track of heat-related statistics, educating her employees on heat risks and illnesses.
“We saw in 2021 there were about 250 deaths that were heat-related, last year as of July there were about 22 deaths,” Taher explained. “Hopefully this year we won’t have that many casualties but unfortunately we live in an area where the heat is definitely a problem.”
Sun protection is top of mind for Victoria Fletcher, a Camco onsite community manager. She can average an hour or more outside working surveying home inspections.
“My property is specifically 920 homes so I do break it up in 4 different days that way I’m not out there for more than 2 hours a day when I do my inspections,” Fletcher said. “When the inspection time comes, the regional manager will call on the hour every hour to make sure you’re taking your breaks, making sure you’re in the shade.”
She said no matter how hot it is, it’s important to know how your body responds.
“The Vegas heat is natural but sometimes when you’re out there it’ll be 85 and all of the sudden it’s so hot you need to take a break,” Fletcher responded.
One thing we would like to do as business owners is encourage other businesses to protect their employees, we can avoid illnesses and deaths just by taking care of really small precautions,” added Taher.
That means knowing the signs of heat exhaustion. According to the CDC, heat exhaustion can involve symptoms such as:
- Weakness
- Cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Fainting
According to the Mayo Clinic, if left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. If you think someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, take these steps:
- Move the person out of the heat and into a shady or air-conditioned place.
- Lay the person down and raise the legs and feet slightly.
- Remove tight or heavy clothing.
- Have the person sip chilled water, a sports drink containing electrolytes or another nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine.
- Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning.
- Monitor the person carefully.
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