Working in extreme heat, often in excess of 45 C (113 F), on a construction site in Saudi Arabia during the summer months is challenging. Protecting the health and safety of workers is always the top priority on a construction site, which can be done through things like flexible hours. The best approach to protect workers is to implement a split shift work system around two scheduled periods for a workday, e.g. early morning and late afternoon, avoiding peak heat hours (usually between 12 P.M.-3 P.M.) when the heat of the day typically occurs. All construction sites should ensure that shaded rest areas are available for labourers to get out of the sun, in addition to having immediate access to fresh and cool drinking water. Some short hydration breaks during this peak heating time will help avoid heat-related ailments, such as heat stroke and dehydration.
Along the lines of mitigating risk to workers, construction site management in extreme heat also considers technology and forward thinking. Contractors may provide and/or advertise heat-resistant materials to their workforce, deploy equipment for manual activities whenever possible, and apply technology with smart sensors to assess the environmental conditions on-site during a heat episode for humidity and temperature. Education in heat safety protocols and first-aid stations on site also help reduce risk on site. Adopting contractions around human-centric work areas and operational changes helps contractors be productive while also protecting their working labour forces from the extreme summer temperatures of Saudi Arabia.
Here are some strategies and guidelines for operating in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia, especially concerning construction sites. Each item has a detailed description to assist a contractor in using one or more of the effective heat operation patterns.
1. Utilize Heat-Aware Scheduling
Probably the most important type of practice is for construction managers to control the time of work to avoid the most extreme heat. Construction managers can manage work schedules by establishing shifts during early morning (ex. 5 AM – 11 AM). Als0, encourage them to work late in the afternoon, e.g.,. 4 PM – 7 PM), which would allow them to avoid work during the hottest hours in the early afternoon (typically 12 PM – 3 PM). This practice, often referred to as a “split shift” system, is a helpful mechanism to control heat exposure, and it helps maintain some normalcy of work activity while protecting workers. Moreover, working in the cooler hours of the day meets the requirements of the laws of Saudi Arabia prohibiting outdoor work during extreme heat in the summer months.
2. Provide Water
On every construction site, workers should have access to clean, cool drinking water. The management should set up water stations on the site that are accessible from every location, easily visible once you arrive at the site, and full of enough water, especially in the summer! It is often advisable to suggest to workers that they should drink water frequently every 15–20 minutes regardless of whether they are thirsty. Supervisors should monitor water levels and cleanliness to maintain a clear supply. In addition to drinking water, maybe electrolyte drinks should be provided to help replace some salts lost from sweating.
3. Set-Up Shaded and Air-Cooled Rest Areas
The rest areas should be strategically positioned on the site. Hence, the workers have easy access to shade while taking a break. The rest areas should provide seating for the workers along with fans or portable air coolers. These rest areas could consist of temporary shelters, tents or simply modified shipping containers with ventilation. Breaks should be assigned every hour and permitted to take off PPE when they are safe to do while taking a break from work is a good way for the workers to cool down.
4. Provide Heat Stress Awareness Training
Workers and site supervisors need to be aware of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke. The management should provide frequent training for workers and supervisors on the signs and symptoms, preventative measures and response to suspected heat stress conditions. In locations where the training will not be provided in advance of the construction commencement, workers on the site should be trained so that a better-trained worker can identify the early signs of distress and be able to take action quickly. Educational information can be handed out in various languages that provide useful information that many workers will find beneficial since they may be experiencing heat stress for the first time in Saudi Arabia, particularly for multicultural workforces found on construction sites in Saudi Arabia.
5. Rotate Tasks and Don’t Provide Continuous Heavy Work
To reduce exposure to the heat for longer periods and get the workers to take a break from the heavy work, managers should rotate workers into different tasks or first, rotate workers onto labour-intensive tasks and then later during the shift, rotate them off those labour-intensive tasks into what should be less physically demanding work. Working heavy manual labour for an extended period will lead to fatigue and, consequently, overheating. Rotating tasks makes economic sense, too, because productivity throughout the crew will be improved, the crews will primarily abide more cooperatively because of the better balance in the workload, and labourers who rotated from labour-intensive tasks to baiting tasks will have had the time to rest and recover while supporting the project.
6. Utilize Smart Monitoring Technology
Smart wearables and environmental sensors can be game changers in terms of enhanced safety in hot working conditions. Wearable devices can monitor everything a worker can do in terms of heart rate, body temperature, heat strain, and dehydration. If a worker shows signs of heat stress, the wearables can notify the supervisor. Environmental sensors can monitor real-time weather data and notify the supervisor when temperature or humidity exceeds limits for heat safety. This REAL-TIME monitoring allows management to be proactive in addressing workers’ heat illness triggers. Management has options such as stopping work early or moving workers to a cooler shaded zone.
7. Ensure Proper Clothing & PPE Management
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial for worker safety. Still, it could also cause discomfort and increase heat stress when working at high temperatures. Management must provide lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking protective clothing for workers to be comfortable. PPE such as cooling neck wraps, ventilated work helmets, and reflective safety vests can also protect workers from some impacts of heat stress. Management also has a critical role in ensuring that workers know how to wear PPE properly. This also includes education on how and when it’s safe to remove PPE during a break to reduce the chance of overheating.
8. Have On-Site Medical Support & Emergency Response Plans
Every construction site should have a documented emergency plan should a worker have to take any type of action for a heat illness. Management must ensure that they erect a designated first aid station for every site staffed by trained personnel. Access to basic first-aid medical supplies for lower-level heat illnesses, cooling supplies, and an emergency plan for transport from the job site are all critical components for a valid first-aid emergency plan. It is also important to conduct regular drills so that everyone is aware of the action steps they must take should someone have a heat emergency.
When your workers are exposed to heat conditions, there can be serious, sometimes life-threatening, effects such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cramps, and rashes. This guideline is to remind employers, supervisors, and workers to be aware of heat safety and provide measures to help prevent and deal with heat-related health risks. One of the most effective prevention measures is acclimatization, where they let their bodies adjust to the heat over 7-14 days. New workers, or those returning from time away from a hot work environment, should only be exposed to about 20% of full exposure to the hot conditions on their first day and gradually progress onward. Working at their own pace, drinking electrolyte beverages, early sweating, and overall heart function allow for greater heat tolerance.
Contractors are required to monitor environmental heat and use the Temperature Working Limit (TWL), which analyzes the air temperature, relative humidity, wind and solar radiation to consider safe working in those conditions. If heat exhaustion is occurring, the worker should move to a shaded area, consume cold water, loosen clothing, and apply cool compresses. If heat exhaustion becomes worse, the worker should get medical help immediately and should not work the remainder of the day. Once fatigued from heat cramps, the worker should be rehydrated and rest while monitoring their condition to ensure full recovery before returning to work. Heat rash requires the area to be kept dry and no ice applied to the skin.
Construction companies need to provide adequate ventilation in indoor spaces as well as appropriate temperatures and alter work schedules through administrative controls when there is extreme heat. Being aware and knowing the signs (confusion, dizziness, redness to the skin and increased heart rate) can help save a life. An emergency protocol must include the next step, which is either contacting medical help or calling 997 (Red Crescent) in major emergencies. Using heat maps and old weather is an effective way to identify areas at high risk, especially in the summer months in Saudi Arabia, to assist in work schedule planning around areas of extreme risk. Overall, given the time of year, a combination of engineering controls, scheduling, acclimatization, and education must be put in place to keep the extreme heat.
Key Principles to Minimize Heat Stress Risk
To manage heat stress risks related to working in hot environments, a person should consider undertaking a thorough risk assessment identifying heat stress hazards related to working in hot environments. A person should certainly consider the type of work, the environment the worker is working in, work-related PPE (e.g. fire suit, etc.), and the physical output required to perform the work. A comprehensive heat stress management plan should be developed, identifying and outlining worker acclimatization, associated hydration procedures, and emergency procedures. The environmental conditions, e.g. temperature, humidity, and radiant heat, should be consistently monitored by means appropriate to the task.
Whenever possible, the work environment should be modified to the greatest extent possible to eliminate associated heat stress using secondary controls, e.g. ventilation, shading, additional rest breaks, or changing work schedules to allow work to be performed during a cooler part of the day. PPE should, whenever possible, be selected to provide the best health & safety protection against heat stress along with thermal comfort. In addition, it needs to be recognized when wearing PPE that additional heat is added to the body, and workers in this situation should be afforded more rest breaks in shaded or cool areas. Worker acclimatization, especially when wearing heavy or impermeable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), should be phased in and not an abrupt change to allow workers to obtain heat stress tolerance. Finally, all workers with chronic health conditions should consult their healthcare provider, as they would do when working in heat, and follow the advice of the doctor.
Wafiyah's Empowerment in Heat Safety and Project Execution
At Wafiyah, safety comes first, and this is especially important when we are working to protect workers and help facilitate project-related work in extreme heat. We take worker safety seriously and follow defined safety protocols and precautionary measures to protect everyone on site under hot working conditions, as well as to limit heat exposure safely. To do this, we have continued to use risk assessments to inform heat stress management options for every project, create custom heat stress plans, regularly monitor the surrounding environment, and help keep working conditions safe. We have further ensured that workers have adequate acclimatization, obtain plenty of hydration, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), balancing safety with comfort in hot working conditions.
With an emphasis on adjusting the work environment through the use of smart work scheduling, we limit any direct exposure we can. For those workers who do experience exposure, we can try to help create ‘cooling breaks,’ and ultimately improve productivity. Wafiyah’s ‘care’ for our workers also helps to improve the overall success of the projects and the associated timelines. Selecting Wafiyah Contracting for construction projects in Saudi Arabia also meant making a reliable choice, being a caring selection, and selecting a company that strives for professionalism. You can trust Wafiyah to support your workforce and advance work on your project, even during the most relevantly challenging working conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Wafiyah keep workers safe during extreme heat?
Wafiyah employs heat stress management plans, utilizes appropriate PPE, schedules work based on temperature, and identifies the cooler time of day to schedule tasks.
Does Wafiyah monitor the workplace every time?
Yes, we use a number of tools to monitor temperature, humidity, etc, for worker safety and environmental monitoring.
What does Wafiyah do to control heat stress and comply with local heat stress regulations?
We provide hydration breaks and rest cycles and allow our workers to adjust. At the same time, they work to prevent heat exhaustion and associated risks.
Is Wafiyah following the safety standards?
Absolutely, Wafiyah follows provincial and local laws while adhering to international standards related to occupational safety and environmental standards, such as ISO 7726 for environmental monitoring.
Why would you choose Wafiyah for your construction projects in the KSA?
At Wafiyah, we decide on your project based on safety, efficiency, and project success. We provide a quality deliverable that does not compromise the safety & Saudi regulations.