Councilman expresses concern for Abbeville’s street crew

The highs have hovered around the mid 90s with the heat index pushing well above triple digits.
Needless to say, it’s hot outside.
Abbeville Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. expressed concern during Tuesday’s council meeting about how workers on the city’s street crews who take care of grass cutting are affected by the high temps.
“We started a safety program and it has done an absolutely wonderful job in curtailing some things happening,” Touchet said of work-place injuries. “It’s about the safety of our employees. We educate them on how to prevent liabilities. We need to be thinking about their well being.
“This heat out there is absolutely horrible.”
Touchet said he noticed the issue during a recent visit to the city barn, where equipment is stored.
“Some of the guys looked like they were struggling,” Touchet said. “I think we need to get them together and make sure they are hydrating and taking care of themselves.”
A safety meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. this morning to discuss those issues with the street crew.
Abbeville Public Works Director Clay Menard said the street crew’s hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The crew members pick up litter, mow and trim the city’s rights of way and blow grass from the street.
“They get to the barn and get everything ready,” Menard said. “They usually get to the job site around 7:30 a.m.
“They come prepared and able to work.”
During most of the year, workers on the street crew receive, along with a designated lunch hour, a couple of breaks per day. During stretches like now, a few more are thrown in.
“They will take more breaks as they are needed,” Menard said. “If one of the guys feels like he is getting too hot, he will go tell the foreman. Then he will go sit down by the truck and get something to drink.
“They stay cool and hydrated as much as they can.”
The city provides water, Gatorade and snacks for the workers. As for the break area, they workers use nature as an advantage.
“They always try to park the truck and trailer under a tree to provide shade,” Menard said. “Fortunately Abbeville has a lot of trees.”
Leadership on the crew has helped in preventing serious situations.
“We have some guys who have been here for a long time,” Menard said. “They know how to handle this heat.
“They guide the new, young guys.”
Menard told the council Tuesday that he is looking into purchasing cooling towels.
“You dip that in ice water and wrap it around your neck,” Meneard said. “We are going to get that to help them.”
Still, Menard said the best way to help is stress diligence in properly hydrating.
“I remind them to take as many breaks as they need to get something to drink,” Menard told the council.
Touchet said that should remain the focus every day, especially in the coming weeks.
“We have to make sure they are taken care of,” Touchet said. “Hydrating, looking at hours, whatever we need to do.
“Without employees, we don’t have a service.”