WEBSTER CO., KY (WFIE) -
While most of us try to stay indoors during the heat, it's not an option for those who work outdoors.
On Kentucky 138 between Slaughters and Dixon, crew members are working very hard despite the dangerous temperatures and they say they're trying to beat the heat through a team effort.
Thursday, KYTC Superintendent Tim Chandler and his crew spent the entire day replacing a cross drain.
"This is a little bit warmer than what it has been, luckily we got a little bit of wind and that does help," he said.
Chandler says they're taking extra water breaks, and splitting time in and out of the sun. But he says it's a team approach that helps them avoid heat exhaustion.
"We kind of just told people to kind of look after each other because a lot of times you can see a guy that's laboring before he'll actually say something."
With crews working outdoors all over western Kentucky, Safety Coordinator Shelley Singleton visits the different workers to remind them of just how rare this weather is.
"Most of us haven't seen temperatures like this in our lifetime, so we're trying to remind people that even though they're used to working in extreme temperatures, to take extra precautions this time because we just aren't used to the high temperatures and the low humidity situations," Singleton said.
Last summer, one KYTC employee was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion and Singleton says they're making sure no one pushes themselves too hard, especially when dealing with these temperatures.
"Anytime we have a situation like that, we do want to raise the awareness level to all of our employees and make them conscious that things can happen out in the workplace, especially when we're exposed to the elements."
"We'll still get the job done. It just takes a little longer," Chandler noted.
So far, there have been no heat related illnesses reported, but you can expect workers to take these same precautions into early next week.
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Last summer, one KYTC employee was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion .
