Masonry Magazine May 2006 Page. 34
HEAT SAFETY
Kevin MacDonald, president of Townsend & Schmidt Masonry in Sacramento, Calif., said the regulations place a burden on contractors, especially the proposal to require tents or canopies for shade. "It's getting to the point of being ridiculous. I don't think we need to bring our own shade. We build our own shade," MacDonald said. "The regulations will not stop. Every year, there's something else being added that makes things tougher."
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AVOIDING
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ILLNESS
Measures to avoid heat illness include:
* Providing plenty of water and salt tablets
* Starting and ending the work day earlier
* Training employees to identify signs of heat illness
* Talking to each worker hourly to ensure they're not suffering a heat illness
* Wearing caps, sleeved shirts, UV absorbent sunglasses and sunscreen
* Allowing more breaks
* Working in the shade whenever possible
* Wearing cooling collars or vests
* Avoiding caffeine, sugar and alcohol
* Making sure prescribed medications allow for prolonged exposure to the sun
Mason Contractors Oppose Landmark Decision
THE CALIFORNIA STANDARDS purposely avoided giving a precise temperature that would serve as a trigger for the regulations to take effect.
"The debate will be how broad these regulations will become." Trost said. "My preference is to leave it open to the contractor's discretion. My fear is that it also leaves it open to the discretion of the inspector. We need guidelines. That's what I'd prefer rather than a hard line trigger."
Because the regulations went into effect at the end of last summer, their effect remains to be seen. Still, masons are bracing for a bottom-line impact.
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