It’s August, which is when we’re usually at the height of the summertime weather. Though, I think we can all agree we’ve already had our fair share of hot, sunny weather over the last couple of months – and let’s hope it continues!

However, while we may all welcome the warmer weather, couple this with it being peak season for warehouse work, it can be tough sometimes.

XCL Group have outlined a few tips for to help keep yourself safe during those warm summer months.

Appropriate work attire

Regardless of whether it’s summer or not, warehouses can be warm environments to work in, only getting warmer as the day goes on from the machines running etc. therefore, it is always recommended to dress to your surroundings. For example, it may be that the day usually starts off cool, so may be wear layers, enabling you to remove layers as the day goes on and it gets warmer. However, in Summer the warehouse may be warm from the offset, so if you’re workplace health & safety guidelines allow for it, ensure you wear breathable loose fitting clothes that give you more chance of keeping cool.

Machinery/equipment maintenance

Machines and warehouse equipment – especially when it’s running all day – poses a risk of overheating. Therefore, it is imperative that all health & safety regulations/procedures are adhered to, whereby regular maintenance checks are carried out and you’re up to date on what signs to look for if a machine was to start overheating.

Stay Hydrated

Naturally, when the human body is dealing with heat it will sweat but it is then important to replace the fluids lost, so as not to run the risk of dehydrating.

So, ensure you have access to a drink throughout the day to help 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 close by. 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.

In summary, 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.