Albuquerque braces for continued heat as families and construction workers navigate rising temperatures
By Peyton Spellacy
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Albuquerque highs are expected to reach the upper 90s again Wednesday, prompting many to look for ways to stay cool.
Meteorologist Eric Green said the metro area typically sees about two or three days where temperatures reach triple digits, based on readings taken from the Sunport. Green noted that starting the day at 70 degrees and reaching the high 90s by noon can take a huge toll on the body.
Some families have been participating in Operation Cooldown, a city-run initiative. When Albuquerque is forecast to hit 100 degrees or higher, the city rotates sprinkler play at select city parks from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
However, not everyone can escape the heat. Noah Woisin with New Mexico Concrete said his demanding work on any day, but triple-digit temperatures make the job even tougher.
“That’s brutal, sun baking down on you, it always makes the day a little more difficult,” Woisin said. “It makes a big difference. The sun really takes it out of you.”
Construction crews protect themselves by using UV-blocking long-sleeve shirts, sunscreen, cooling towels, and plenty of water.
Bob Genoway, deputy director for the Compliance and Enforcement Division under Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said those practices align with official safety standards.
Genoway said there are “three basic pillars of protecting workers from heat, and that’s water, rest, and shade.”
Employers are responsible for training and educating their workers on the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, which include fatigue, nausea, and headaches.
“There’s no set number of breaks, but it’s important for an employer to recognize that as it gets hotter and hotter, more breaks might be necessary,” Genoway said.
In 2023, when Albuquerque experienced 17 days of 100-degree temperatures, OSHA reported that 50 workers statewide ended up in the emergency room for heat-related illness. If temperatures hit 100 degrees Tuesday, it will mark the second triple-digit day of the summer. Signs of heat-related illness are fatigue, headaches, and nausea.
Woisin said that with the right gear and preparation, his crew works hard to keep heat-related illnesses rare.
“We don’t see them as often as you would think, just by taking precautions and making sure you’re hydrated and staying, staying out of the sun in direct sunlight,” Woisin said.
OSHA advises workers who are feeling the effects of extreme heat to alert their employer first. If nothing changes, the agency encourages workers to reach out to them for help.
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