To provide support for roofing contractors potentially facing dangerous levels of dehydration, Marley Eternit is giving away stainless steel water bottles to help them stay hydrated during the summer months.
For each bottle requested, the UK’s leading roofing systems manufacturer will also donate a pound to the charity WaterAid, which supplies safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
The initiative is part of Marley Eternit’s annual Safe in the Sun campaign to establish safer practices for construction workers who are exposed to UV rays and high temperatures, potentially causing the loss of up to 1.5 litres of water in sweat every hour.
After just a few hours, workers can experience problems such as fatigue, dizziness and lack of concentration which are particularly dangerous when working at height.
With its complimentary water bottles, Marley Eternit is making it easier for workers to keep their fluid intake in line with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, which recommend that workers should drink 250ml (half a pint) of water every 15 to 20 minutes to replace lost fluids.
Each bottle request will also generate a £1 donation for WaterAid, to go towards establishing sanitary drinking water sources in developing countries.
Katie Prestidge, Trade Marketing Manager at Marley Eternit comments: “Roofing contractors are susceptible to dehydration not only because of the PPE that has to be worn, but also due to the extreme temperatures they may experience on site. 18°C on the ground can mean 32°C in direct sunlight and on a roof, with temperatures reaching as high as 60°C in a heat wave.
“We have been campaigning for safe working practices for contractors in the sun for over a decade now and while there is much greater awareness of the risks of skin cancer, more still needs to be done to protect workers from the risks posed by dehydration. This is why we are providing free water bottles to help workers stay hydrated and donate to a great cause in the process.”
In addition to providing water bottles, Marley Eternit is offering a compilation of the best tips and advice for avoiding dehydration on its website. Workers are also encouraged to share their own tips through social media using the hashtag #SunSafeHacks.
To order a water bottle, email info@marleyeternit.co.uk or visit www.marleyeternit.co.uk/About/Safe-in-the-Sun for more information.