Page 30 - OHS, January/February 2021

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
Drinkable PPE:
Are You Protecting Your Workers from the Inside Out?
Hydration is often a second thought while completing a rigorous work day.
BY DARIN DILLOW
Hard hats, harnesses, face shields, goggles, hearing pro- tection, respiratory gear—you make all the right moves when it comes to protecting your employees from exter- nal dangers, but what about internal dangers? Appropri-
ate hydration is essential to preventing mental and physical fatigue, both of which are leading contributors to workplace accidents. Before employees go on shift, it’s important to make sure they are protected on the inside, too.
Water is great for helping the bloodstream recover from dehy- dration and is essential for everyday processes in the body. How- ever, water alone cannot replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost through perspiration, nor the carbohydrates burned during hard work. Without these replenishments, the body can’t be as produc- tive or precise in carrying out the tasks at hand, productivity wanes and the potential for accidents and injuries increases.
Therefore, it is critical to not only educate your employees about proper hydration, but also provide them with a hydration program to help them maintain healthy fluid levels and replenish what is lost during a hard day’s work. Here are some tips for success.
Focus on hydration in toolbox talks. Educating workers about hydration is as important as education on safety protocols and equipment use. Hydration, much like PPE, is a critical component of health and safety in the workplace year-round. Proper hydration throughout a shift will not only replenish what’s lost during hard
work, but also help the body function optimally, prevent muscle cramps and keep employees alert and feeling good. Dehydration can make employees at-risk for accidents, injuries and heat stress.
Include hydration standards in your written safety plan. Un- til recently, many safety plans overlooked hydration. As employers recognize the potential productivity gains and accident reductions resulting from a well-hydrated workforce, hydration standards are becoming a welcome addition to safety plans.
Hydration standard best practices should include a fluid re- placement plan and drinking to thirst. When experiencing thirst, the body is already entering into dehydration. Thirst is a signal to replace fluids. The previous recommendation was one bottle of water per hour. However, fluid replacement plans need to account for additional factors like sun exposure, temperature, humidity, job tasks and level of PPE (e.g., fire-resistant clothing). Employ- ers should ensure that workers have enough beverages available to replace fluids throughout their shifts.
Look at hydration as an investment in safety, productiv- ity and morale. If employees must provide their own hydration, they’re less likely to adhere to the workplace hydration strategy. Make an investment in the continued safety of your workforce by providing the hydration needed to follow their fluid replacement plan. Make it easily accessible! If employees can walk to a cooler and grab a bottle when they need it, they will.
26 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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