By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
With highs in the triple digits those who work outdoors are more susceptible to heat related illnesses.
During a record-breaking construction year, the Missouri Department of Transportation has this in mind as well.
Engineer for the northwest district Austin Hibler says there are several protocols MoDOT follows to protect its workers.
"We send out advanced warnings letting our staff know of the excessive heat protocols that need to be followed when working in the heat," Hibler tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post "Taking extra breaks, drinking plenty of water, and then also we make sure everybody is educated on things to be aware of when working in the heat in regards to heat related illnesses."
Hibler says with the excessive heat there are times when workers could be pulled off the streets during the hottest parts of the day
"When we get into weather like this our contractors are aware and we make adjustments such as performing concrete work at night and doing things of that nature," Hibler explains. "To try to not only protect our workers and the staff out there, but also to do our best to not compromise any of the materials being incorporated into our projects."
Hibler says however this hot weather is also beneficial to the road construction with materials such as asphalt and bridge work.