10 hours ago
Outdoor workers take precautions amid excessive heat
BUFFALO, N.Y (WIVB) — With the high temperatures occurring throughout Western New York, local contractors are taking precautions to make sure their workers are safe from heat-related illness.
'It's just important to stay hydrated, stay cool, take care of your people,' said Pat Williams, owner of Decked Out WNY.
His crew wrapped up working on a deck they are building early on Monday due to the heat and told us they would be working inside on Tuesday.
'It's affecting everybody. It's a little early in the season; gradually, we'll get a little more used to it as we go through. But yeah, it's affecting everybody,' said John Petrozzi, owner of Fiddler Roofing WNY.
Fiddler Roofing WNY has been around since 1977, and the company spent Tuesday morning working on a roof in Wheatfield.
'We try to work around the project; the north side of the house is sometimes cooler. We're blessed with a shady tree today,' said Petrozzi. 'Always be cautious, always look out for each other, make sure everybody looks OK because it can happen really quick with heat exhaustion.'
The New York State Department of Transportation said that there are many projects that are going on throughout the region — and while they don't stop projects due to extreme weather, they're finding ways to work around it.
'We're telling our employees that you have to be cognizant of that; you have to take care of yourself first, and a lot of times it's just the simple things like making sure that you have that bottle of water on you, making sure you're remembering to drink throughout the day, making sure you go find that shade,' said Ryan Whalen, public information officer of the NYS DOT Region 5.
Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County Commissioner of Health, recommends that anyone who works should know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and know how to respond to both.
'It's important that everybody has their own individual plan because everybody has different circumstances,' said Dr. Burstein. 'Enjoy the hot weather, but just be smart and be safe.'
If you're working outside in the heat, here are some recommendations from Dr. Burstein:
Carry water; she recommends drinking eight ounces of water every 15-20 minutes while working outside
Avoid caffeinated drinks
Take breaks
Monitor yourself and your co-workers for symptoms
Anyone taking medications, including antidepressants, diuretics, and medication for high blood pressure, should be careful because these medications can impact how your body regulates its own temperature
For more information about advice on how to handle heat, visit the Erie County Department of Health's website here or read their 'Let's Get Ready for Summer Heat' guide here.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
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