By Cormac Gilligan, UPS Global Head – Health and Safety. Cormac has over 25 years of global safety experience and extensive international and cross-cultural programme development. He has a bachelor’s in occupational safety and health from South Bank University in London, UK and a national certificate in human physiology from the Carlow Institute of Technology in Ireland.
At UPS, our people power our world-class service. Like elite athletes, our drivers and package handlers demonstrate endurance, precision and skill to deliver for our customers. That is why we focus on safety every day and always look for ways to improve. Over the last five years, we have invested more than 33 million hours and nearly $2 billion on safety training.
Working in the heat requires preparation and good habits. That is why UPS’ Recharge training teaches employees to come to work well rested, stay hydrated and recognise early signs of heat stress. Developed with experts from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and the Korey Stringer Institute, this programme ensures our teams are ready to face hot weather safely.
We also know these are only one part of the safety solution. The right training combined with the right gear and the right equipment is the key. That is why we continue to invest and find new ways to make summer safer for all UPS employees.
Here is what we have done:
- We have made access to ice, cool water and electrolytes beverages easier in our facilities to ensure all UPSers have what they need to stay hydrated. We have supplied more than 100,000 water jugs to drivers, added nearly 3,000 more ice machines and installed 2,000 additional water fountains.
- To help keep our drivers and inside staff cool during hot weather, we have given out more than 1 million pieces of cooling gear, including sleeves and hats made by MISSION®. This special gear can stay as much as 30 degrees cooler than the body for up to two hours. MISSION gear was featured on NBC’s Today Show during a segment on summer must-haves.
Watch as UPS drivers from San Antonio try the new cooling gear.