Thursday, October 19, 2023

Getting Used to It or NOT

Our bodies actually have a hard time dealing with heat or cold if we don’t build up our resistance to it

By Michael Schroeder Hubert, CLAC Training Manitoba Program Manager

Do you remember how hot it is was at the beginning of June this year? In Manitoba, we got an early start on summer as temperatures spiked in early June to above 30°C.

Think back to the beginning of the year. Do you remember the cold snap in January where it was -35°C overnight for a week? When it is was so hot in June, did you find yourself struggling with the heat because you weren’t used to it?

Our bodies actually have a hard time dealing with heat or cold if we don’t build up our resistance to it. This process is called acclimatization.

In summer, we usually experience a gradual increase in daytime temperatures that gets us used to working in hotter conditions. In winter, it also takes a while to get used to working in the cold. Acclimatization takes a while to build up our resistance to hot and cold.

If we get an early spike in temperatures, our bodies may not be able to handle heat initially. And once we do become used to the new conditions, we can lose our acclimatization if we are not continually working in hotter temperatures.

A break from working in the heat for over a week can cause us to lose our acclimatization, and it will take a few days for us to build up our ability to function at 100 percent in hot conditions again.

In the fall, the reverse process takes place. Days get colder and gradually our bodies adjust to the lack of heat.

For me, it takes longest for my fingers and toes to get used to working in the cold. But eventually I get acclimatized, and I can work more efficiently with thinner gloves and toes that don’t complain.

For now, enjoy being in the Goldilocks zone, not too hot, not too cold, where temperature doesn’t negatively impact your ability to get work done. Winter is coming. Hopefully we can ease into the cold slowly so that our bodies can manage the adjustment easily.

But you know that hoping for the weather to be optimal is setting yourself up for disappointment. Don’t wait to look for those gloves and long underwear until it is too late.

P.S. One thing that we should never get acclimatized to is uncontrolled hazards on site. See something that needs attention? Bring it up and get it fixed now. Waiting may acclimatize you to the hazard, but that doesn’t make it safe!

Getting Used to It or NOT

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