☀️ Heat Safety at Work: Keeping Cool While Staying Productive

As summer kicks into high gear, temperatures aren’t the only thing rising—so are the risks of heat-related illnesses. At AVAY, safety always comes first, and with some blazing days ahead, we're turning up the awareness on how to stay cool, safe, and productive.

🧊 A Cool History Lesson: The Ice Man Cometh

Did you know that before air conditioning, businesses in cities like New York would literally pay men to haul huge blocks of ice into offices and factories just to cool the air? One famous ice hauler, Frederic Tudor—nicknamed “The Ice King”—built a global empire shipping ice from frozen lakes in Massachusetts to the Caribbean, India, and even South America.

Fun fact: He once insulated shipments with sawdust and hay—talk about eco-friendly cooling!🔗 Learn more about Tudor’s icy empire here

💡 Heat Safety Tips – The AVAY Way

At AVAY, especially in the warehouse and drop-off zones, here’s how we keep our team cool and safe:

✅ Hydrate Like a Pro Water breaks aren't optional—they’re encouraged. Add lemon or cucumber slices to water jugs for a refreshing twist.

✅ Lighten Up Encourage light-colored, breathable clothing. Bonus: light colors reflect heat, unlike dark fabrics that absorb it.

✅ Shade & Rotate Employees working outdoors or in non-air-conditioned areas should rotate into shaded or cooled spaces regularly.

✅ Know the Signs Heat exhaustion can sneak up fast. Watch for dizziness, rapid pulse, or nausea. Don’t “tough it out”—report symptoms right away.

♻️ Summer Is a Great Time to Recycle Your Electronics

While AVAY does not accept air conditioning units, we encourage everyone to dispose of them safely at an appropriate facility, since they contain refrigerants and other hazardous materials that require special handling.

However, summer is the perfect time to take inventory of other electronics you may no longer use or that didn’t survive last season’s heat.

We do accept and responsibly recycle:

• 📱 Old cell phones and tablets

• 💻 Laptops, desktops, and monitors

• 🎧 Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and chargers

• 🎮 Gaming consoles and accessories

• 🔋 Power banks, cables, and small battery-powered devices

  
  

Cleaning out your garage or storage unit? Don’t throw old electronics in the trash—drop them off at AVAY and help protect the planet, one device at a time.

👉 View our full list of accepted items here

🎉 Hot Weather Fun Facts

• The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth? 134°F (56.7°C) in Death Valley, CA in 1913! 🔥

• In extreme heat, your brain literally shrinks a little to conserve energy. Stay hydrated to stay sharp!

• Your body can sweat up to 1.5 liters per hour during heavy physical activity. That’s a lot of water loss—so refill often.

  
  

🧠 AVAY Tip of the Week: “Safety is teamwork.”

Watch out for each other. If you see someone struggling with the heat, say something, offer water, and let a supervisor know. We all play a role in keeping our workplace safe and healthy.

Let’s make safety a habit, not a hassle. Together, we’ll beat the heat—and still crush our goals.

And don’t forget—if your summer gear includes outdated electronics, bring them to AVAY. We’ll recycle them the responsible way. 😎♻️