My friend works for a major Perth construction company. Last week, as the temperatures hit the 40s, they had people monitoring the hydration levels of their workforce using an expensive high-tech gadget.
Interestingly, the monitoring wasn’t just for the hi-vis outdoor workers who have little access to shade. They checked all the staff, including those back at the air-conditioned offices.
Here’s where they discovered a surprise. Those standing out in the sun, even in that extreme heat, were fine. That was not always the case with those sitting in air-conditioned offices. This was where they discovered the most concerning dehydration cases.
The counterintuitive finding makes sense when you think about it:
- Outdoor workers are typically very conscious of hydration needs in extreme heat
- They likely have established hydration protocols and regular water breaks
- Their bodies’ natural thirst signals remain strong in the heat.
Meanwhile, office workers may:
- Not feel as thirsty in air conditioning
- Get absorbed in work and forget to drink water
- Have suppressed thirst cues due to the controlled environment
- Mistakenly assume they don’t need as much water because they’re indoors.
Even in climate-controlled spaces, our bodies continue to lose water through:
- Breathing
- Natural skin evaporation
- Regular bodily functions
- The drying effects of air conditioning itself.
As Perth heads into another hot spell, this is a valuable reminder that hydration is important for ALL workers, not just those in direct sun.
This wasn’t a scientific study. It was a small sample group. Still, if this story prompts people to pause and drink more water, that’s got to be a good thing.
Drink up people!