Summer is officially upon us and beating the heat will keep you healthy and productive. There are many summer dangers on construction sites, but OSHA maintains that water, rest, and shade are the most important factors to avoiding heat illness. Here are a few products to help keep you and hydrated on your jobsites this summer.
SHAX Model 6000 Industrial Shade Umbrella
Staying out of the sun as much as possible is extremely important to short term and long term health. The SHAX Shade Umbrella might just be the coolest umbrella I’ve come across so far. The 7.5ft diameter shade has a tilt mechanism, 4 different height options, and a ground spike. You can also order a stand or the trailer hitch mount pictured below for your truck.
Ergodyne Chill-Its Low Profile Hydration Pack
Hydration is key to avoiding heat stress, but many construction sites can be several acres in size, making the local watering hole (that your employer should be providing) a bit aof a trek to get to. The Ergodyne Low Profile Hydration Pack is insulated to keep water cool and is protected by a rip-stop polyester shell for durability.Capacity of the pack is 2 liters or 70 ounces.
DEWALT DCE511B 11" Corded/Cordless Jobsite Fan
The DeWalt 20V jobsite fan is a super-efficient, powerful, and convenient option for the workshop or jobsite. Delivering up to 500 CFM of air, the fan can easily last a full day on one battery. If your battery runs out of juice, no worries, because it can also be plugged into an outlet through an extension cord. Rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, it’s ready to be put to work in tough conditions.
Pyramex Cooling Hard Hat Pad and Neck Shade
The back of the neck can be one of the most vulnerable spots for sun damage, so a neck shade like the Pyramex Cooling Hard Hat Pad and Neck Shade will protect your neck, while helping to keep you cool.
To activate the evaporative cooling, just soak in water for 2-5 minutes. After it stops cooling, simply submerge it in cool water again to re-activate.
Milwaukee Tool Workskin Long Sleeve Shirt
While it may seem counter-intuitive to wear a long sleeve shirt in the middle of summer, protecting skin from the sun and dangers of the jobsite are even more critical. The Milwaukee Workskin does come in short sleeves, as well, though, but both versions are light weight, wick away sweat, and provide odor and UV protection.
Truewerk T1 Light Weight Summer Work Pants
Just like the long sleeve shirts mentioned above, many don’t like wearing pants when it’s hot out. Truewerk makes some extremely comfortable work pants, though, and their T1 line is made specifically for summer wearing. The pants feature a more breathable fabric than their other pairs, moisture wicking material, 8 pockets, and reinforced stress points for durability.
Big Fogg Blitz 2400 Industrial Grade Misting Fan
Big Fogg specializes in misting products, including fans tents, inflatables, and more. Their fans even serve as the misting fans for leagues like the NFL use, so you know you’re getting the best. There are several different types of misting fans to choose from on their site, some with local water storage and pumps and some that have a satellite water source and pump for when you need multiple fans running. At this price, this is more of a business purchase, rather than a personal purchase like the others, but Big Fogg claims their misting fans can lower the temperature by up to 40 degrees. The fan pictured to the left is the Blitz 2400 Model Industrial Grade Misting Fan that promises to create a very fine fog that doesn’t get the your workers or the surrounding area wet.
Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.