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Summer heat dangerous for outside employees

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The heat and humidity is very dangerous, especially for those who work outside all day, like construction workers.

Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says that highway workers are required to train for working in extreme heat.

Health experts say the 100 plus temperatures and the scorching sun beating down on construction workers all day long, puts them at serious risk for illness.

That's what happened to a worker directing traffic in Muhlenberg County on Tuesday morning, who began displaying the lethargic signs typical of heat exhaustion.

He was taken to the hospital, where it was determined he was dehydrated due to heat exhaustion. Todd says the weather can be an occupational hazard, and workers must bear it as best they can.

Workers have started a buddy system, checking in on each other, and drinking Gatorade in addition to water, to hydrate and to replenish electrolytes.

Doctor Tricia Baird says workers staying off their feet is a good step, considering the dangers when you couple the hard work with the weather conditions.

Todd says the road workers take these stressors seriously, and says now crews are encouraged to avoid the heat of the day as best they can, even if it means punching in early.

Todd says sometimes to avoid the hottest days, workers can spend the day getting some maintenance work done on the equipment.

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