This summer is shaping out to be another extremely hot one , which makes simply being outdoors a lot more dangerous . Having a job where you work outside is oftentimes a lot harder during extreme weather conditions .
A video taken through a Ring doorbell shows just how dangerous the heat can be for people working outdoors, including delivery drivers.
Last week, a homeowner’s Ring doorbell camera caught a UPS driver collapse on his front porch.
Brian Enriquez, a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, got a notification from his Ring doorbell. When he viewed the video, he was horrified to see that the deliveryman who’d been dropping off an envelope collapsed, seemingly from the heat.
Enriquez shared the video with local news stations in an effort to warn workers about extreme heat.
In the video, you can see the moment the driver walked up to Enriquez’s door unsteadily, and then fall to the ground after dropping an envelope.
He stays down for a few moments before finally getting back up, and ringing the doorbell before leaving.
Enriquez said that he did not see the notification right away, but regrets it because he could’ve talked to the driver through the doorbell if he had.
Enriquez also stated that he contacted UPS and the police.
Although he could not speak to the worker directly , Enriquez tried to contact UPS. He also contacted local authorities in order for them to do a wellness check on the employee.
UPS released a statement in response to the issue.
A spokesperson said, “We appreciate the concern for our employee and can report that he is fine. UPS drivers are trained to work outdoors and for the effects of hot weather.”
They also clarified that the driver was okay.
The statement continues, “Our employee used his training to be aware of his situation and contact his manager for assistance, who immediately provided assistance. We never want our employees to continue working to the point that they risk their health or work in an unsafe manner.”
This incident is just one that shows that UPS drivers work in unsafe conditions.
This June, a UPS driver passed away after falling unconscious in his truck . His family suspects it was due to the high temperatures inside the truck.
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The trucks do not have air conditioning, which is a concern for employees and their families.
Unfortunately, heat-related illness reports among UPS drivers are nothing new. And yet, the company has no plans to install air conditioning in their trucks, despite growing complaints.
On a hot day, a UPS truck can easily be 10 or more degrees hotter than the outside temperature.
Even with water, this kind of heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke, which can be fatal if not treated properly.
And these days, summers are getting much hotter.
The summer of 2021 is the hottest on record for the United States , and rising temperatures are showing no signs of slowing down. Companies should be doing more to make sure that stories like these don’t keep happening.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
