By Thad Plumley
Sometimes a jobsite can be transformed into a mud pit when there is a steady flow of rain over your heads for hours on end. Other times, snowy and icy conditions can shut down what you are trying to do for your customers. Then there are the days when you need to keep an eye on your coworkers while they watch you under a blistering, hot sun.
Yes, there is no question the weather plays a big part in our jobs.
Ironically, as I write this my morning began with a drive to the office through a long, steady rain less than 24 hours after high winds blew the siding off of my neighbor’s home. You gotta love springtime in the Midwest!
Spring will soon give way to summer, and with that comes weather that can make jobs extremely tricky and potentially impact the water well systems of your customers.
With spring comes heavy rains, and unfortunately that often brings flooding with it. Remind your customers if they reside in a floodplain or in any area that has been recently impacted by a flood that it is critical for them to have you check their well system after such an event.
Share with them to:
- Stay away from the well pump while it is flooded to avoid electrical shock.
- Do not drink the water from the well or use it for washing to avoid becoming sick.
- Reach out to you as soon as possible so you can flush the well, disinfect it, and perform any other needed maintenance.
The same applies to water wells in areas that have been hit by tornadoes like the ones that ravaged Mississippi earlier this spring or even severe high winds that destroy and damage property.
This summer will bring the heat, and that is when you must be most watchful. The summer months are the busiest and you’re going to naturally feel pressure to complete that long job list as fast as possible.
But you must be mindful of heat illnesses. These can range from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke and it’s up to you to take action on the jobsite to prevent them.
Every member of your crew needs to take breaks, get out of the sun regularly throughout the day, and stay hydrated. The National Center for Environmental Health recommends that people drink two to four glasses (16 to 32 ounces) of water each hour—even if you don’t think you’re thirsty.
The scary thing about heat illnesses is when you finally feel like you are being impacted by the heat, it’s too late; you’ve been impacted by the heat.
So, remind your customers to be careful in unpredictable weather and then you be careful as well in this busy work season. Attack that long job list but do so smartly.
Remember, while you’re good, Mother Nature is still undefeated.
Thad Plumley is the editor of WWJ and the director of publications for the National Ground Water Association. He is currently the secretary for the AM&P Network Associations Council Advisory Board. The AM&P Network is a national association for publishing professionals.. He can be reached at tplumley@ngwa.org, or (800) 551-7379, ext. 1594.