The Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer generally refers to a period of hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere. This period of extreme heat coincides with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest star in the sky. The Greeks, Egyptians and Romans believed that the super brightness of Sirius, combined with our Sun, was the source of summer’s oppressive heat.

Though the summer is peak construction season, the “Dog Days” provide the project with unique safety, productivity and scheduling concerns. When heat indexes in July and early August can easily reach 105 – 110 degrees, field personnel can be in serious health risks.

This is especially true for mechanical contractors and projects requiring field pipe fabrication. One avenue to protect field personnel from the dangers of summer’s excessive heat would be to plan for the fabrication of piping spool pieces to be performed by a qualified pipe fabrication shop.

Planning for the spool pieces to be fabricated offsite and delivered to the site in accordance with the project schedule, alleviates any dangers of workers experiencing heat stroke or heat exhaustion from the effects of the sun and the humidity.

“In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat.” As a pipe fabricator and mechanical contractor located in Tuscaloosa, AL, we at Dixie Mechanical know the “Dog Days” all too well. We make certain our employees understand the safety measures that need to be taken to ensure their safe return home at the end of the workday.