How employees can remain safe in the heat

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (BNN)-- With temperatures now reaching 100 degrees, the heat is taking its toll on everyone, but no one more than those who work outside.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that heat-related deaths have been increasing every year.

" This heat has actually been actually brutal to me," construction employee Josiaha Jenkins told News 19. "You can ask them, I actually look like I've gotten out of the shower whenever we're out here. By 9:30 a.m. I am currently soaked."

Just last year, a 33-year-old building and construction worker lost his life due to a heat-related illness while on the job, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. HEMSI informed News 19 that, at 2:30, the time of the interview, they had already reacted to 3 heat emergency situations at outside job websites. Two of these emergencies were at a building and construction website.

Don Webster with HEMSI shares what needs to be done to prevent heat-related emergency situations on a task site.

" As the days starting, drink plenty of liquids and hydrate themselves," Webster stated. And then once they start, get on the task site and are doing the activities outside, take regular breaks."

Marshall County female says 'wolfdogs' assaulted pet outside her home

Webster shared that while companies may not like it, outdoor employees ought to be taking a 10-minute break every hour that they are working outside. He went on to state that there are 3 indications that show a heat-related disease in someone: lightheadedness, cramping or nausea, and a lack of sweating.

Owner of Southern Edge Outdoor Solutions LLC, Jonathon LaPlante, goes one step even more when trying to assist his workers: surface early and beat the heat.

" It gets pretty warm," LaPlante said. "And, the greatest part is remaining hydrated and kinda cool, right? We work as much as we can. We got gallon jugs of water. So, we work and take breaks as we require to. Try to hit it early, then get done a little bit previously in the day is what we aim for."