By Pierrot Baptiste Jr.
640 Indian St. is the site of the newest SCAD building. Construction workers spend hours upon hours in the Savannah heat working on getting the building up and running.
Two construction workers walk back after viewing the building site. Workers wear specialized hard hats with bigger brims to block out the heat from the sun.
Foreman Rich Hardy (right) looks on with another foreman. "Every fifteen minutes, we take a water break and after every two-three waters we drink powerades or gatorades to replenish electrolytes," Hardy said.
Jim Anderson (right) and another construction worker watch as cement pours into the ground. According to the CDC, between 1992 and 2016, 285 construction workers died from heat-related causes.
A construction worker looks on as concrete pours into the ground to be used as foundation. This week, the heat index in Savannah peaked around 100-104°.
William Richards stands and directs traffic. "I've got to make sure I'm hydrated. I'm out in the sun all day and the humidity gets crazy," Richards said.
Ronald Smith sits in a backhoe loader. "Even in here the heat is a problem. I try as much as possible to get into the shade when I can and stay drinking fluids," Smith said.
A construction worker stands atop of the building structure. Some of the construction workers stated that they try to take breaks every 20-30 minutes to avoid being in the heat for extended amounts of time.
Two construction workers stand as they prepare to light up some cigarettes and get a sip of red bull. When construction workers take breaks, most take the time to get hydrated and take a smoke break, citing the stressors of the job as the reason why.
A construction worker drives a mini excavator. The black canopy over the top of the machine shields him from the sun.
After loading concrete into the ground, the two construction workers close up the discharge chute. "One of the biggest risks we face because we work outside are heat strokes," cement mason Greg Bell (right) said.
The work being done in the heat is centered around constructing SCAD's newest student housing building. Last month, the city of Savannah established three cooling centers around the city in order to offer relief from extreme heat, with the nearest for the Indian St. site workers and being 13 minutes away.
A construction worker takes a break and refreshes himself with a Red Bull. As a result of sweating from working in the heat, electrolytes are loss and dehydration chances are increased.
Across the street from the construction site, a street vendor operates. "I drink a lot of water, but I also try to train myself for being outside in the heat in terms of being in shape and hydrated," the operator who goes by Mr. Wing-n-it told me.
Mr. Wing-n-it prepares a customer's order. He says working across the street from a construction site has it's benefits because the workers come over and purchase drinks and food from him when they go on their breaks or after they've finished up for the day.
Mr. Wing-n-it showcases what he calls the "Money Shot." He says he not only works under a tent but also keeps a small fan under his table because he has to deal with the sun and the heat from the fryer.
The parking garage where some of the construction workers come to get out of the sun. The garage provides shade to workers who struggle with the extreme heat.
The site where the housing building will be. This is where the construction workers spend most of their time.
A construction worker walks to his work truck as his day out in the Savannah heat is done. "It's tough out here at times, but we've got a job to do in order to put food on the table," he said.
