It’s August, and it feels like Summer has finally arrived!

However, the Summertime can be a peak time for Warehouses, where workload picks up and in doing so an influx of staff can be needed, which can be hard work when coupled with hot weather.

XCL Group have a few tips for keeping yourself safe during those warm summer months.

Hydrate regularly

The normal response from the human body when dealing with heat is, sweating.

However, it’s important that you replace the fluids lost from sweating otherwise you could run the risk of dehydration. So, make sure you have access to a drink throughout the day maintain your hydration, water being the best option.

NOTE: It may be the case that due to the nature of your warehouse / machines and Health & Safety regulations, you’re not able to have a drink within close proximity. However, having this in a sealed bottle can be acceptable in most cases as it reduces the potential of spills leading to slips and trips in the workplace.

Dress appropriately

Even throughout other months of the year, warehouses can get warmer as the day goes on, therefore it is always recommended to dress to your surroundings. i.e. if the day starts cool, layer up so you can always remove clothing as the day gets warmer. But in the summer months, the warehouse may start off warm – especially with machines running – so if you’re health and safety guidelines allow you to do so, make sure you wear loose fitting / breathable clothes that have more chance of keeping you cool.

Maintain your equipment / machinery

Just like humans, machinery has a risk of overheating, therefore it is paramount that you abide by all health and safety procedures, follow regular maintenance checks and you’re up to date on what to look out for, if a machine starts to overheat.

To summarise, working in the heat is a given for warehouse workers, and it can be dangerous.

Make sure you know how to protect yourself and any issues you think may occur or have occurred because of heat – relay these to management level as soon as you can.