7 Jobsite Gear Picks for Hot Weather
Summer has arrived, and with it comes extra dangers for construction workers. Exposure to intense heat and sun can lead to a host of health issues, from sunburn to heat exhaustion. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training using statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2012 to 2023 construction accounted for the largest percentage of fatal heat-related injuries. Not surprisingly, the majority of those incidents occurred in June, July and August.
OSHA outlines a number of steps companies and workers can take to prevent heat-related injuries and fatalities, including acclimatization, modifying work schedules to avoid times of high heat, frequent breaks, hydration and symptom monitoring. Check out their full slate of heat resources here.
Dressing for the heat, including wearing a hat and breathable clothing, is another OSHA recommendation for heat injury prevention. With that in mind, here are a few work gear items to help keep you cooler on site.
Top Summer Jobsite Clothing and Personal Cooling Gear
Hard Hat-Mounted Fan
New from Ergodyne, the Skullerz 8884 hard hat-mounted fan provides targeted cooling to the head and neck at low, high and turbo speeds. The fan and battery pack have a universal fit with dual-mount strap for use with Skullerz or other hard hats. It features adjustable air vents to direct flow, a low-profile design and quiet operation. Batteries last up to 12 hours on the low setting.
Sweat-Wicking Hi-Vis T-Shirt
Carhartt’s HV Force Relaxed LS Class 3 T-Shirt is made with the company’s Force technology designed to wick away sweat and dry fast. It has ANSI Class 3, Level 2-compliant reflective material and trim. Other details include Stain Breaker technology that releases stains, a tagless neck label and a left chest pocket. Bright orange and bright lime colors are available in regular and tall sizes.
Service Shorts With Stretch
The 1656 Service Shorts With Stretch from Blåkläder combine light cotton canvas for durability with black stretch fabric on the crotch and backside that provides airflow and freedom of movement. The shorts have back pockets; bellow, zipper, pen and knife pockets on the legs; inset pockets; and an inner telephone pocket. Six colors and eight sizes are available.
Sun-Protection Hoodie
The TrueWerk B1 base layer sun hoodie is lightweight, breathable and sweat-wicking, and it offers built-in UPF 50+ protection. For enhanced head and neck protection, it has a scuba hood that fits easily under a hard hat or helmet. The hoodie offers four-way stretch, tear resistance and raglan sleeves for added mobility. A range of colors is available in six sizes.
Cooling Towel
The Northern Safety Cooling Towel from Wurth Industry activates by wetting it, then provides hours of cooling around the neck. It measures 30 inches by 14 inches and is machine-washable.
UPF Protection Tech Shirt
Brunt Workwear’s McKenna Tech Shirt is lightweight and breathable, quick-drying and moisture-wicking, and offers UPF 50+ sun protection. Details include four-way stretch, side mesh panels for ventilation, flatlock seams that don’t rub the skin and drop-shoulder seams to reduce abrasion and chafing. Four colors and seven sizes are available.
Scissor Lift Fan
New from Milwaukee, the M18 Brushless Scissor Lift Fan is said to be the industry’s first solution specifically for scissor lift cooling and mounting. It has a quick-adjust clamp that fits both square and round rails, a built-in tether point with 10-pound locking tool lanyard, an impact-resistant design and protection against dust and water ingress. The fans offers up to 750-CFM airflow with 350-degree head rotation and up to 210-degree vertical rotation. Operating on Milwaukee’s M18 RedLithium XC5.0 battery platform, it runs up to 3.5 hours per charge on high or up to 8 hours at 75% speed.
Stay in the know on seasonal products by subscribing to our enewsletter.
