Erland / Reinforcing Heat Safety—Together.

By Clarence Reid, Safety Director

With a heat advisory in effect and temperatures climbing above 90 degrees across New England, it’s important that we all take extra steps to protect the well-being of everyone working on our jobsites. At Erland, we view safety as a shared responsibility—one that extends across all trade partners, project teams, and field staff.

While each firm is responsible for implementing its own heat stress prevention program, Erland plays an active role in reinforcing those efforts, supporting compliance, and fostering a culture where looking out for one another is second nature.

Why Heat Safety Matters.

• First-week vulnerability: About 50–70% of outdoor heat-related fatalities occur during a worker’s first few days on the job or after returning from time away (OSHA, n.d.-f). To reduce risk, OSHA recommends the "20% Rule": limit initial workloads to 20% of a typical shift and increase gradually each day (OSHA, n.d.-d).
• No season is too cool: Dangerous heat exposure isn’t limited to summer heat waves. It can happen indoors or outdoors—even when the weather doesn’t feel extreme. That’s why year-round awareness and prevention are so important (NIOSH, 2016).

How Erland Reinforces Heat Safety Onsite.
We support our trade partners by verifying that the following measures are in place during high-heat conditions:

• Hydration Access: Workers should have frequent access to cool, clean water—and be encouraged to hydrate every 15 to 30 minutes, regardless of thirst.
• Shaded Rest Areas: Outdoor work areas must have tents or designated shaded spaces for breaks and cooldowns throughout the day.
• Monitoring Worker Wellness: Foremen are reminded to check in regularly with their teams—especially newer or returning workers and those performing tasks in buildings without functioning air conditioning.
• Gradual Acclimatization: We help ensure that workloads are adjusted to allow workers time to safely acclimate to high temperatures over the course of several days.
• Daily Heat Safety Briefings: Project teams are encouraged to review forecasted temperatures, rest schedules, and key safety reminders during morning huddles.
• Temperature Tracking: Hot spots onsite—indoors or out—should be monitored, with adjustments made to support safe working conditions.
• Program Documentation: Trade foremen are asked to review and sign into the jobsite’s heat emphasis program as part of our standard documentation process.

A Shared Commitment to Safety.
Our approach is grounded in OSHA’s best practices and guided by one core belief: every worker deserves a safe, healthy environment—no matter the weather. By working together, staying aware, and communicating often, we can prevent heat-related illnesses and help everyone go home safely at the end of the day.

Let’s continue to support one another and make heat safety a team effort.

For more information and helpful resources, visit OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention page.

Stay safe, stay cool, and take care of each other. For any questions regarding this topic, please contact Clarence Reid at creid@erland.com.

Resources.

OSHA. (n.d.-a). OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign
U.S. Department of Labor
An overview of OSHA’s nationwide initiative to prevent heat-related illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.

OSHA. (n.d.-b). Acclimatization and the "20% Rule"
U.S. Department of Labor
Guidance on safely building tolerance to working in hot environments, particularly for new or returning workers.

OSHA. (n.d.-c). Heat Hazard Recognition
U.S. Department of Labor
Describes how heat hazards can occur indoors and outdoors, regardless of traditional weather conditions.

NIOSH. (2016). Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
In-depth scientific research and best practices for managing heat exposure across industries