Feeling the Heat: Keeping Your Employees Safe in Hot Conditions
The hottest time of the year is now upon us. For quick lube shops, that means more drivers getting up to date on maintenance before that big summer road trip—it can also present intensely hot conditions that can impact not just the quality of your technicians’ workplace, but their safety as well.
Living in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, area, Ray Bowens has been more than aware of the impact the heat can have on the techs he employs at his shop, Kwik Kar Vista Ridge.
Bowens originally didn’t have a background in automotive, having left a senior vice president position at a large bank to pursue his own path as an entrepreneur. Since then, the shop has won several awards, and Bowens has even served on the Chamber of Commerce in Lewisville, Texas.
“I wanted to do something local, and I always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” says Bowens. “I really wanted to make an impression on young people considering entrepreneurship.”
Bowens’ motivation has always been giving back to his community, which has made it natural for him to care for his employees. He lays out some basic measures he takes that can go a long way in protecting your team members and shop culture.
Foster a ‘Safety First’ Environment
Once the temperatures outside get close to 100 degrees, Bowens has notices placed throughout the shop informing customers their wait times may be impacted due to technicians having to take breaks to cool off.
“We post signs in several places—on the door, anywhere the customers come in at, we have a sign posted,” tells Bowens. “One says, ‘When the outside temperature approaches 100 degrees, the temperature in the shop can easily exceed 105 degrees.’ And we have another one that says ‘safety first.’”
Employees are empowered to take breaks whenever they feel the need to, and to rest for a bit in the air-conditioned break room. A refrigerator is kept stocked with water and sports drinks for staff members to store their beverages in as well.
Bowens sees no need to enforce any sort of schedule, and no pay is deducted from the time they’re away. He’s seen little to no impact so far on productivity levels, though it certainly helps that he has several staff members who have been on for over a decade.
It’s practices like this that have kept those team members around for so long.
“It really shows the employees that we care about their well-being. It has definitely increased the morale,” says Bowens. “It gives them bragging rights. You know, these guys kind of know each other in different shops. Vendors come by, and they see the sign and they like it.”
Know What Your Shop Needs
Bowens has yet to face any complaints from customers, despite servicing hundreds of vehicles on a weekly basis. In fact, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, as customers feel it shows a level of transparency other shops don’t.
Taking care of his employees is a year-round effort. In winter, the shop supplies technicians with gloves and positions heaters to ensure their comfort, demonstrating that shops can take measures in any climate to keep their team comfortable.
“Here in Texas, we have quite a few cold days. They’re not as long term as they are in some other parts of the country. You don’t necessarily have weeks and weeks of cold. The joke in Texas is: If you don’t like the weather, just wait for a while,” Bowens says with a smile.
Each shop will face a unique set of issues, especially depending on the type of facility that they’re housed in. Bowens’ shop area, for example, is over 20 years old and lacks the insulation of most other newer buildings. Even so, it’s often enough to set up fans throughout the work areas, coupled with frequent breaks throughout the day.
Take Safety Seriously
Heat in areas like Texas can grow intense enough to threaten someone’s health—especially with temperatures in the shop rising higher than those outside. It’s been a serious priority for Bowens, who grew up on a farm and has seen firsthand what the impacts of heat exhaustion can be.
Even now, he sees reports on the news of individuals who push themselves too far in the heat—but he has yet to see many other shops take similar actions for their own staff. He often comes to other shops around the area to observe, and has seen just one other business post a notice informing customers of potential wait time impacts from the heat.
Bowens hasn’t seen a tremendous impact from the heat on wait times yet, but putting up signs and taking precautions is about fostering a safe workplace where employees know they’re taken care of, and showing customers that it’s something your shop takes seriously.
“I would definitely encourage shops to post a sign somewhere, so the customer can see it and understand how important it is to keep your employees safe,” says Bowens.
