Southington Drafting Heat Policy For Its Employees

SOUTHINGTON, CT — It's been a hot summer and Southington officials are currently working on a draft policy regarding how its outdoor employees can operate when the mercury skyrockets.

The issue came up in passing during the town manager's report at the Southington Town Council's last meeting on July 8 during an, otherwise, light agenda.

With July being one of the hottest months in years, Councilperson Valerie DePaolo, citing an article she read about municipal employees working in the heat, asked if Southington had a policy.

Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said the town's human resources is drafting a formal policy on town employees working in the heat.

"We don't have official (policies). I'm in the process of drafting them," Ricciardone said.

He said he recently met with department heads and he advised them to abide by U.S. military protocols that utilize colored flag designations for temperatures and humidity.

In the military, Ricciardone said, duties are adjusted if it is too hot and humid.

He said the flag alerts used in the military take into account heat, humidity, and wind, with work and rest time adjusted based on the color of the flag.

While many town employees work in air-conditioned offices, workers in other departments, especially public works and recreation, are exposed to the elements.

Ricciardone said he has asked department heads to abide by military protocols for working in the heat.

The military head flag index starts with a white flag, in which no restrictions are required and the temperature index is less than 82 degrees.

A black flag is the highest index and this occurs when the heat index is 90 degrees and greater.

For this, training and outside activities are scaled back (except for specific missions).

"We absolutely encourage employees who are feeling ill to take a breather, hydrate," Ricciardone said.

DePauol said she was pleased the issue is being addressed in Southington.

"That's great because it's something across the country now that municipalities and companies are dealing with," DePaolo said.

"Employees are having health-related issues because they're out there and they're not allowed to go out into the shade or have water breaks and things like that."

For the minutes of the July 8 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.