For me its the Sun light and humidity. Ive worked outside no shade, welding HD equipment or putting floors in dump trailers in upper 90 degree days. We have to put plywood down to kneel on. I have a method I use of a clean 5 gallon bucket filled with water that I soak a towel in and wrap around my neck plus I drink a lot of water and diluted Gator aid.
Ive welded in dry heat of upwards of 180 degrees, but that was indoors and no sun light. Usually we try and do those jobs on the upper elevations of the power house when load is down and at night
However its common for temperatures in the power house to be well over a 100
All that was fine until last summer. It was mid nineties and humid. I was welding a specail type locking system on a container my boss was going to store equipment in on job sites
It was my first one doing and a PIA. It was outside in a gravel yard, no shade.
Between draging out cables, torch and other stuff plus the setting this thing up, im by myself it took me the better part of the day
My noon I was having trouble and I could work maybe 15 minutes and had to sit down, I was exhausted
I pushed myself to finish and that was my mistake
Now I was done and had to clean up and I became to weak to do that. I couldnt get off my ***.
My next mistake was calling my son to help me, who promptly called my wife. After sitting for awhile I had enough strength to get up and clean up....
My kid came and wouldn't let me drive so he drove me home
I didn't sleep hardly as I was up all night with leg and arm cramps
I was bummed out that I turned into a pussy.....People telling me I was 69 at the time didnt help
I was old and I had to face it that I had limitations
Dont mess around with the heat, especially you older guys down south
Be carful
