Roofers used to working under glaring sun
Think you’re feeling the heat? Try tarring the roof of a building when the temperature is hovering around 30 C and the humidex adding to that.
That’s what Action Roofing employees were doing Monday at a commercial flat roof job on McDonald Street in Regina.
The haze doesn’t faze company owner and operator Darrell Kotylak. With 38 years of experience in the industry, he’s worked in toastier conditions.
“I actually found the summers years ago were much hotter because it was 30 degrees for two months,” Kotylak said.
However, with a heat warning in effect by Environment Canada, he and his employees are taking precautions and drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated.
“Unfortunately, when you’re a roofer, it’s pretty hard to stay out of the sun,” Kotylak said.
The roofers are slowing their pace over their eight- to 10-hour workdays.
Dr. Maurice Hennink, a medical health officer for the Regina office of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, advises outside workers to use a buddy system during heat waves.
“Usually the people working outside, roofers and folks who work on the roads, are acclimatized because that’s the nature of the job that they do,” he said.
“But still it’s important that they take precautions — drink plenty of fluids and have some sun protection.”
He suggests people avoid heavy exertion during the hottest hours of the day to avoid heat-related illnesses.
“Someone with heat exhaustion might have a range of symptoms that include sweating; they ’re pale and sweating; they have muscle cramps; and they’re usually nauseous,” Hennink said. “Move people into a cool area and see if you can assist in getting their temperature down.”
Seek immediate medical assistance or call 911 for anyone who has the following symptoms: unconscious for longer than a few seconds; seizures; difficulty breathing, confusion or extreme anxiety; hot, dry, flushed skin with no sweating; severe vomiting or diarrhea.
It’s particularly important for babies, young children, the elderly and anyone who is ill or has chronic health conditions to stay out of the heat.
“If you’ve got elderly neighbours, do go and check in with them on a regular basis on hot days,” Hennink said.
Those living by themselves in hot apartments are at risk of becoming confused and might be unable to call for assistance.
Environment Canada issued a heat warning Monday for Regina because temperatures were forecasted to hit 32 C, hover around 17 C overnight and climb back to 32 C on Tuesday, with a humidex value of 39 C.
“That meets our heat warning criteria of two days with temperatures of 32 or above and an overnight low of 16 degrees or higher,” said Jean Paul Cragg, meteorologist with Environment Canada. “That’s why we have the heat warning out for Regina and pretty much all of southern Saskatchewan.”
Storms are expected in Regina and area on Tuesday as a low pressure system swings across the province and runs into the hot, humid air mass.
“We’re expecting thunderstorms to form and those thunderstorms could be severe,” Cragg said.