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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2018)
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018 NEWS Outdoor workers struggle to keep cool People whose jobs keep them outside must be careful when it’s this hot By TAMMY MALGESINI STAFF WRITER As the mercury continues to rise, many people head to the river, the local pool or crank up the air conditioner in order to stay cool. However, many people who work outdoors are left sweating while figuring out ways to beat the heat. The key — hydration. The general consensus among employees that are exposed to extreme elements is to make sure people are drinking enough water. This also goes for those who are having fun outdoors or working in their yards. Jim Forquer, operations chief with Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, said it’s important for peo- ple to recognize that alcohol isn’t a good substitute for fluid intake. In addition to impairing a person’s judgment in recognizing possible harm from being in the sun, alco- hol can further increase the risk for dehydration. “Water is the best choice for proper hydration,” he said. Tom Strandberg, the Oregon Department of Transportation Region 5 public information offi- cer, said with dozens of projects going on throughout the summer, the department has several hun- STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Hayley Mele-Seibel, 15, watches over the multi-use pool during swim lessons at the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center. dred people exposed to the sum- mer heat. In addition to mainte- nance crews, construction liaisons are out in the sun checking on jobs and contracts. “It’s definitely a topic on our minds,” Strandberg said regarding being prepared for working in the heat. “We send out safety remind- ers with the hot weather.” During the warmer months, Forquer said the first “house chore” of the day is to fill coolers with ice and bottled water so it’s ready to go when fire crews are called out. Brandon Artz, recreation super- visor for the city of Hermiston, said lifeguards at Hermiston Fam- ily Aquatic Center are provided with sunscreen, water and Pow- erade, a sports drink that replaces electrolytes that are lost through sweating. Beating the heat Last week after looking at the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration web- site, Cam McGinnis, the ODOT Region 5 safety lead, drafted an email reminding employees to be prepared for weather-related working conditions. “Prepare for the heat. Keep an eye out for the shade and the water,” he wrote. McGinnis stressed the impor- tance of staying hydrated, plan- ning for work breaks, appropri- ate attire and how to recognize the risk for heat-related symptoms. He reminded employees to make sure they have plenty of water, as well as encouraging crews to bring additional water. McGinnis also said wearing a wide-brimmed or floppy hat helps in keeping the sun off a person’s neck and head. Covering exposed skin, said Rebecca Ferge, office manager for Bellinger Farms, is a practice watermelon harvest crews uti- lize. It reduces their exposure to the sun, while also trapping sweat against the body, which helps in cooling a person down, she said. “We try really hard for them to be able to take their breaks in whatever shade might be avail- able,” Ferge added. Artz, too, said lifeguards are encouraged to get out of the sun when on their breaks. While they may take a dip in the pool, Artz said they are urged to take cover in the shade or in the air-condi- tioned lifeguard station. Another important part of tak- ing preventive action, Forquer said, is a having a good fitness program. “Our crews work out every day and that assists their ability to work in an environment that exposes them to the extremes,” he said. Many of the harvest work- ers, Ferge said, are accustomed to working outdoors in the heat. They pack lunch boxes with flu- ids and food that are replenishing, she said. “They’ve acclimatized them- selves to the triple digits,” she said. “They drink lots of water.” In his email, McGinnis also provided information about phone apps that are helpful. The NIOSH Heat Index, he said, is quite use- ful in providing important infor- mation to determine risk factors. “Once the location, tempera- ture and humidity are determined, the app rates the conditions and gives you suggestions for mitiga- tion,” McGinnis said. “This app also has basic first aid suggestions for heat related illness.” Also, other conditions are fac- tored in at outdoor jobs. For road construction crews, Strandberg said working near or on asphalt and concrete can increase the tem- perature. Lifeguards have to con- tend with the sun reflecting off the water. And the heat from flames for firefighters pushes the ther- mometer even higher. At floor level, Forquer said a fire in a typical single-family dwelling can result in temperatures of 300-500 degrees. At the ceiling, he said the mercury can climb to 1,200 degrees or even higher. With an awareness of this, Forquer said they have automatic mutual aid response from other agencies that helps in rotating people in to help reduce fatigue. In addition, reha- bilitation areas include misters and plenty of water to maintain proper hydration. Forquer encourages people to look at weather forecasts and plan their activities accordingly. If pos- sible, he said it’s best to do yard work, go shopping and other out- ings in the morning when it’s not as hot. “We know it affects every- one, but our crews are out there exposed to the elements working for ODOT and the citizens of Ore- gon,” Strandberg said. “Now we’re hitting the heat and pretty soon it will be freezing cold.” CDA director says depot transfer to local control is close By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER There’s just one box left to check before the former Umatilla Chemical Depot can be transferred to local control. At a Columbia Develop- ment Authority board meet- ing Tuesday morning, direc- tor Greg Smith told the board that all that was left was for the necessary parties to wrap up the Section 106 process, which relates to agreement between the Army, state and tribal officials and the local development authority con- cerning the best strategy to manage habitat, historical and cultural concerns while also allowing for economic development on the former Army depot. Smith said if the CDA and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Res- ervation could come to an agreement by the end of Get that Summer Break feeling in a new Toyota! piece,” he said. “Everything else in terms of the checklist for transferring real estate is done.” The tribes and the CDA board have been negotiat- ing over protection of wild- life habitat, areas of cultural significance to the tribes and a portion of the Oregon Trail that runs through the depot but have not yet been able to come to an agreement. 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