Heat Stress initial estimates, until an emergency makes them a budgeting priority.
• Hydration Monitoring: Assign a designated crew member to monitor hydration and ensure all team members are taking regular opportunities to drink fluids( i. e., water) and stay properly hydrated throughout the workday.
• Jobsite Monitoring: Use weather alerts and heat index tracking to trigger safety level changes, meaning that when the index hits certain thresholds, work methods adjust accordingly.
Risk Multiplier
It’ s widely understood that heat-related fatigue affects judgment. And in crane operations, that split-second hesitation or misread signal can lead to dropped loads and swing hazards.
Heat also compromises grip strength that’ s crucial when handling rigging or controls. Sweaty hands, slippery gloves and reduced dexterity are a recipe for mishaps.
There’ s also the machinery to consider. High temps can naturally affect hydraulic performance, sensor accuracy and steel expansion for example. Equipment checks must be more frequent with operators reporting even minor irregularities.
Train for Terrain
Keep in mind that new hires or operators arriving from cooler climates might
Pre-job safety briefings— before the start of each shift— are a great time to reinforce summer protocols and remind workers of the signs of heat stress.
not be acclimatized to sun-scorched jobsites. And bodies that aren’ t used to the heat may not recognize the danger signs until it’ s too late.
That’ s why every project should include acclimatization protocols like easing new team members into full workloads, monitoring them closely and even providing buddy systems. Because nobody should be left to“ figure it out” when their health is on the line.
Also worth noting is that certain medications, underlying health issues and even diet( too much caffeine or salty food) can elevate the risk of heat stress. Site leaders should be aware of these, and crews should feel empowered to speak up.
Leadership Imperative
Project managers and equipment coordinators must control the culture. If your team sees you cutting corners or shrugging off summer safety, they’ ll follow your lead.
However, if you’ re enforcing cooldown breaks, praising proactive reporting and investing in comfort infrastructure, that sets the tone that people’ s safety is priority one.
The sun’ s not the enemy, but ignoring its effects is. Crane operations require maximum precision, constant communication and peak mental focus. Heat undermines all three.
Don’ t leave safety in the shade this summer. Build smarter by protecting even better.
Michelle Marsh is the Senior Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety( EHS) at AWP Safety, a traffic safety company with over 1 million work zones secured annually.
www. cranehotline. com • July 2025 13