Ingalls Shipbuilding takes heat precautions for workers

With the summer heat, we know people who work in the elements need to take precautions.

Ingalls’ Pascagoula shipyard employs thousands and the company is doing what it can to help keep everyone safe.

Ingalls leaders tell us the second shift’s clock-in time has been moved up to keep workers out of the heat during the hottest part of the day, but they do have a doctor on staff monitoring heat-related illnesses.

“Our area has experienced extreme heat conditions and given the nature of our business, many of our shipbuilders conduct work outside durin the summer months,” said spokesperson Kimberly Aguillard.

“Because of that, we go through great lengths to protect our shipbuilders from the elements such as investing in covering more than a million square feet of previously open area and piping air into unventilated areas.

“We also provide ice and water on a daily basis for shipbuilders and we encourage them to stay hydrated, especially when temperatures are approaching the triple digits. Additionally, we education shipbuilders on how to cope with and recognize signs of heat distress so that they may report to our on-site medical facility in the event of problems.”