With the school year beginning in Minnesota, the temperatures are starting to drop and the leaves are changing colors. Autumn is a nice change of pace for many residents and workers as they no longer have to deal with scorching hot temperatures and constant rainfalls.
However, fall is certainly not devoid of obstacles that could affect your ability to work. With the Gopher State’s unpredictable climate, outside workers will have to prepare themselves thoroughly for the trials that await them in the fall.
Dressing warm and dodging illnesses
Even if September ends up being 80 degrees throughout the whole month, it just takes a couple days here for it to drop down to 50. Start taking warmer clothes with you to work and have a coat and blanket on standby in your car in case of an emergency. Be sure to check the heaters in your car and have a kit to help you kickstart your car in case it does not turn on. While it’s not winter yet, we have had snow arrive in October before. It is better to treat the fall as such to make your transition to the colder months even easier.
Additionally, you need to be on the lookout for any fellow employees that appear to be under the weather. Dropping temperatures means flus, colds and viruses are bound to affect your co-workers. The CDC recommends getting a flu shot as soon as you can and washing your hands often to minimize the chances. With how much work one of these conditions can make you miss, you should take extra precaution and listen to any warnings from your doctor.
Avoiding fall hazards and adjusting your vision
While there might be less rain to deal with wherever you are working at, autumn marks the beginning of frequent slip hazards that can appear unexpectedly. The frost you start seeing on your car windshields every morning also means that some of the ground is going to get icy. The leaves that also begin to occupy the road more also become more slippery as time goes on, whether from rain or the morning moisture.
Evenings will also come much sooner than before. Those who begin their shifts in the late morning or early afternoon will have to deal with the sun coming down sooner to put an irritating glare in their eyes. The Minnesota Safety Council recommends that motorists and outdoor workers start adjusting their eyes to the nighttime as it becomes increasingly darker earlier.
Whether you are a construction worker, officer, firefighter or any other outdoor worker in Minnesota, you know how quickly temperatures can change in this state. Preparing yourself for autumn’s obstacles now can decrease the chances of any potential illnesses or accidents from developing at your workplace.