Dehydration in the Workplace
Onsite Safety Management Inc.
Hydration is important! Especially when you’re working in an industry that requires you to be active.
The summer is coming quickly around the corner and the risks of dehydration are about to become more important to pay attention to.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
It’s important for managers and supervisor to actively keep an eye out for the signs of dehydration in their workers in order to prevent a related incident.
You are more at risk if:
You are directly under the sun
You are working for hours at a time
You are wearing PPE
Warning signs:
Fatigue
Difficulty focusing
Sunken eyes
Elevated heart rate
Dry mouth
Thirst
Dark urine colour
Dizziness
It is important for everyone to monitor their own hydration level and to take the necessary precautions and time to make sure they are drinking enough water
YOU CAN BE DEHYDRATED WITHOUT BEING THIRSTY
Be sure to pay attention to all the signs above in order to best prevent an incident related to dehydration.
SOLUTIONS
PRE SHIFT HYDRATION
Try to come into a shift already hydrated and prepared for the work at hand.
At the beginning of a shift take the time to make sure that you have a drink and have at least 1 bottle of water on hand per worker.
It is recommended by CCOHS that you consume at least 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes throughout the day.
It is best to keep this consistent as chugging a bunch of water at once doesn’t have the same effect.
KEEPING COOL
Dress for the job you have.
Keep your head covered when in direct sun
Where well ventilated clothing
Where protective clothing is necessary be sure to compensate for the generated heat by drinking fluids
DON'T OVERDRINK IF YOU WORK THE NEXT DAY
Alcohol and caffeine both contribute to dehydration and should be considered with performing laborious tasks.
Coming to work hungover or drinking the day before work can massively impact your hydration and is not recommended.
SUPPLEMENTS
If you find you have a hard time motivating when it comes to plain water there are several options you should consider before drinking Red Bull or sugary pop. The caffeine in these drinks will counteract the hydration effects.
Invest in some electrolyte tablets. There are several flavours that I've heard of from people who spend a lot of time hiking like these from amazon that work really well and taste good too.
You can also get EMEGERGEN-C packets at a lot of grocery stores which can be a tasty and delicious way to hydrate and get some extra vitamins.
Don't stay thirsty, stay hydrated.