So the weather has decided to treat us to some much needed sunshine and those temperatures are finally rising in line with the rest of Europe, but what happens if you are still working and those holidays are just a little too far away? You see, worker dehydration is a big issue all year around but in summer it can be even more of a risk no matter where you happen to ply your trade. Here we talk about hydration at work and look at the best practices required to keep dehydration well and truly out of the workplace here in the UK.

Added Heat

When the heat starts to crank up and we are not working in an air-conditioned office, dehydration is always ready and waiting to pounce on us. Of course, if you are working in a physically demanding job, you should really start increasing your intake of water accordingly. The guidelines tell us that 250ml of water should be consumed every 30 minutes and although this may not be practical, there are ways to ensure you follow these rules. Try drinking 500ml of water every hour and do this even before you start work. But if you find that you are losing water even faster due to heavy clothing in high temperatures, you should increase the amount to a proportionate level.

The Dangers

According to the Natural Hydration Council, our brains are very sensitive to any fluid loss and once this is detected, our mental performance drops dramatically. Not only do we also feel sluggish and have issues as far as concentration is concerned but we also tend to feel tense, irritated and impatient. Not exactly ideal moods for the workplace and just imagine if the whole workforce are suffering in this way. Employers should pay heed because the overall production level is going to drop through the floor and you could be looking at some nasty incidents as a result of these dehydration symptoms.

Help is here

Instead of fretting about how dehydration can effectively cause chaos in your own workplace, why not be proactive and ensure that your employees are well protected instead? By installing water coolers and water dispensers in easily accessible points, you can avoid these issues altogether. Ensure you have both chilled and instant boiling taps installed in your break out and kitchen areas and also in spots where more than 10 workers are usually located throughout the working day or night. 

5 Awesome Tips

 Follow these proven tips to avoid dehydration this summer and beyond:

  • Check your urine colour and if it is dark yellow, this points towards dehydration kicking in so take effective preventative measures.
  • Try to drink small amounts of water regularly instead of large amounts less frequently.
  • Men need at least 2.5 litres per day and ladies should aim for a minimum of 2 litres.If your work involves strenuous activity in warm weather, ensure you drink before, during and after work to avoid dehydration.
  • Monitor your water intake on a daily basis with the WaterCoolersDirect drink alarm app .