By Martin Rice
Dale Jackson Career Center – Welding
Iron Workers Local #263

Sweat was dripping into Mick’s eyes, burning and blurring his vision. He had a 50-foot welding lead on his shoulder as he and Harry climbed a ladder up into an elevator shaft. They had to weld some braces up under the top of the shaft and the ladder was the only way up. There were 20 floors below disappearing into a dark hole at the bottom. It was hot, humid, dangerous work.

“Man am I ever glad I listened to you about coming to Houston!” Harry said wryly as he climbed behind Mick. “I’m so dang hot I think my blood’s boiling right in my veins, and I haven’t seen anything for the last hour because of the sweat in my eyes!”

Mick continued to climb as the humidity seemed to soak to his bones. “Hey, I didn’t twist your arm to come here. And besides, you said you always wanted to see the Texas Gulf.”

“I said that on a California beach with a cool breeze blowing in my face. You didn’t tell me it’d be like a dad gummed OVEN!”

It was the middle of August, and one of Houston’s hottest summers. Mick had worked there before, but sure didn’t remember it being this hot! “Funny,” he said “whenever I’m cold I wish for the heat; now I’m hot and wishing for winter! I gotta’ find somewhere that stays about 70 degrees!” 

“We need to drink plenty of water,” Harry said. “Especially since we had a couple of beers last night.  I heard alcohol really dehydrates a feller’. Remember the guy on that powerhouse?” 

“Yeah,” Mick replied. “That was bad.” 

They had seen a buddy go in the hole (fall) when he suffered a heat stroke a few years back.  Had he been drinking plenty of water, he probably would not have passed out, which caused him to fall.

Mick got ready to weld and yelled, “FIRE in the HOLE!!!” which served as a warning to anyone below that the sparks would be flying. 

After welding a couple of hours without saying anything, Harry lifted up his hood and spoke. “Hey Mick, how ‘bout we head to Alaska?”  

Words of Advice

Be really careful if you boom out (travel) to a hot climate to which you are not accustomed.  Years ago I moved to Dallas, Texas, in February so I gradually got used to the hot humid summers they have. A buddy of mine came down in August and it really was rough on him. As a matter of fact, he got his first paycheck and got the heck out of there!

You’re supposed to use sunscreen, but not many people did on the jobs where I worked. As a welder, I usually wore a long sleeve shirt, but I probably should have applied sunscreen also.  Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America and should not be ignored.  I’ve had friends who were hit with it later in life after working in the sun for years.  If left untreated, skin cancer can be fatal.

When you are working in hot conditions, you need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Water is best, followed by sports drinks, from what I have been told.  If you’re thirsty, you have already started to dehydrate.  Caffeine drinks dehydrate you, so my advice is to lay off the sodas on hot days.

And if you’re having a few brews at the lake after work, remember alcohol is a major dehydrator.  Drink plenty of water with that brew and NEVER drink and drive.  A designated driver or taxi is well worth keeping you or some innocent person from being maimed or killed on the road!