'Start feeling lightheaded': Construction workers suffer during heat waves

Scorching hot temperatures are taking a toll on construction crews across Western Pennsylvania.

Peter Caruso, owner of Peter J. Caruso & Sons Inc., had about 30 workers paving in sweltering temperatures on Thursday — when air temperatures topped 90 degrees for the seventh consecutive day, with the heat wave expected to continue Friday. They’re working with asphalt that comes out of the truck at 300 degrees, exacerbating the heat.

“It’s awfully hot under you,” Caruso said, saying that it can take up to an hour for the asphalt’s temperature to drop to 200 degrees.

Mostly sunny skies this AM, becoming partly sunny this PM. Shower/tstms should become likely later this aftn & eve. Some storms could contain strong damaging wind gusts & locally heavy rain. Latest weather info at https://t.co/JWLI3dJUMc, or https://t.co/nR4yhzmgUx. pic.twitter.com/LihUSX4NXh

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 10, 2020

With hot temperatures in the forecast for more than a week and hotter asphalt at construction sites, the conditions are cause for concern.

“Heat stroke is a terrible thing,” Caruso said. “We take it seriously.”

To combat the heat, he offers cooling towels, cold water and Gatorade to his crew. He also encourages them to take breaks in an air-conditioned truck if they start to feel sick.

Caruso’s crews start early so they can finish early, avoiding the hottest part of the day.

At United Paving in Latrobe, owner Morris Cooper said his employees are pausing asphalt work until Monday.

“My guys actually asked me to schedule light work because of how hot it is,” he said.

Cooper and Caruso agree that workers’ health is their primary concern.

“If you start feeling lightheaded, you have to stop,” Cooper said. He encourages his workers to drink lots of water, take breaks in the shade, and “drink a cold beer when you need it.”

Beyond health concerns, the soaring temperatures cause other issues for construction companies.

“It slows everything down,” said Donald Lovell, owner of Gary Lovell Paving in Greensburg.

As workers take extra breaks to combat potential heat stroke, one-day jobs can easily stretch over two days. Some crews have to stop earlier in the day because of safety concerns.

Caruso said he prefers slow progress over the alternative.

“It’s not worth it for someone to get heat stroke,” he said.

Even the equipment protests the soaring temperatures.

“We have to keep our equipment always topped off with fuel,” Cooper said. “When equipment gets low on fuel in these temperatures, it can shut down.”

With eight days of temperatures above 90, this current heat wave alone tops the seven days the region typically sees such highs. Still, it falls far short of the record stretch of consecutive days with temperatures above 90, according to the National Weather Service. The agency’s local records date back to 1875.

A 13-day heat wave in July 1988 holds the record, followed by 12 consecutive days above 90 in July 1881 and 11 straight days in July 1878.

The average July high temperature for the Pittsburgh region is 82 degrees.

The current heat wave, which is expected to end Saturday, ties for ninth longest, with other eight-day stretches recorded in June 1994 and August 1995.

Below are the top ten stretches of consecutive days where temperature reached 90 F or greater for the Pittsburgh area:
? pic.twitter.com/7Q0pKQ2kXu

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 6, 2020