HOUSTON – The scorching summer heat in Houston isn’t stopping outdoor workers from getting the job done.
Along Hillcroft Avenue, crews are installing new utility poles to strengthen the power grid ahead of hurricane season. But for one foreman, keeping his team safe in the brutal heat is the top priority.
“We don’t want anyone to pass out or we don’t want anyone to get heat exhaustion,” said Darius Dotson, a foreman with Safe Route.
“We have a cooler in the back, so essentially I get about 2 or 3 bags of ice, I keep it full of water, and I keep electrolytes just in case there’s a lot of sweat,” Dotson said.
Hydration is survival, not just a suggestion
Keeping their bodies cool and hydrated isn’t just a recommendation — it’s survival for these workers.
“We take a break, we rotate every 10 minutes,” Dotson said.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. KPRC 2 meteorologist Caroline Brown said this week will be the most intense stretch of heat so far this summer.
“This week it is actually going to be by far the hottest. We are expecting 100 degrees — 5 consecutive days in a row. We didn’t even have that last year,” Brown said.
‘Hottest time of the year,’ says landscaper
Hugo Escobar, a landscaper working in the Houston heat, says the job demands more than just water to get through the day. During an on-camera exchange with KPRC 2 reporter Sandy Torres, Escobar listed his go-to hydration: water, lemonade, tea, Powerade and electrolytes. He said he’s been doing this work for several years and confirmed this is, without question, the hottest time of year.
Workers of color, immigrant workers hit hardest
The AFL-CIO, a national labor union, reports that workers of color and immigrant workers are disproportionately impacted by heat-related dangers on the job.
Dotson said foremen must know the warning signs before a worker’s condition becomes life-threatening.
“When you notice someone is not sweating at all, as much as they did in the beginning — that is an automatic indication that they are getting overheated. They need to get water, and we need to cool their bodies off as fast as possible,” Dotson said.
Texas law limits local heat protections
In 2023, a Texas law eliminated local rules requiring water breaks for outdoor workers, meaning Houston cannot force employers to schedule them. The AFL-CIO reports dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill from heat exposure every year.
The KPRC 2 weather team says the heat is not letting up.
Medical officials recommend pre-hydrating, dressing in light clothing and looking out for the people around you.