Concrete doesn’t wait for perfect weather, and neither does this job. Summer in South Louisiana brings heat that’s hard to ignore. When that heat collides with the demands of concrete production, placement, finishing and hauling, the risks become very real. For our crews at Daigle Industries, working through extreme temperatures isn’t new, but it’s never taken lightly.
Since opening our doors in 2013, we’ve remained committed to a simple standard: protect our people, produce the best product and never compromise on quality or safety. That starts with a workplace culture that knows how to prepare for heat and adapt to different conditions.
Here’s how our team gets the job done when the heat index climbs—and why safety will always come first, no matter what the forecast looks like.
From day one, Daigle Industries has made workplace safety the foundation of how we operate. Our Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) program guides everything we do, from pre-pour meetings to final cleanups. When summer rolls in, that safety program goes into high gear.
South Louisiana summers bring hot temperatures and a level of heat retention and humidity that can sneak up fast. For concrete workers, this risk is even greater. Working around mixers, setting forms, pouring slabs and finishing surfaces puts the body in close contact with radiant heat.
Hauling crews also face added exposure. Whether it’s waiting in the truck cab, loading material or backing onto hot job sites, they’re navigating intense heat for long stretches of the day. We don’t wait until someone’s feeling dizzy or dehydrated. Heat safety is part of our process from the moment a job is scheduled.
Adjusting schedules is one of the simplest and most effective ways to limit heat exposure. Our team plans work in phases to avoid the hottest hours of the day. When possible, we schedule early morning pours or overnight hauls to stay ahead of the heat curve.
Start times are adjusted based on forecasts, and crews are briefed each day with updated weather conditions. If we know a heat advisory is coming, we plan accordingly.
To keep everyone informed, we send twice-daily heat index notices company-wide. These alerts provide current readings and safety reminders, keeping supervisors, drivers and field crews aligned on conditions and expectations throughout the day.
Heat-related illness can come on fast. That’s why we emphasize prevention, not reaction. Crews are trained to hydrate before, during and after shifts. Breaks are mandatory, not suggested. And our leadership keeps a close eye on team members, especially during peak hours.
We assign hydration monitors within each crew to track water intake and encourage consistent hydration throughout the day. These monitors play an essential role in keeping our people well, particularly during back-to-back shifts or high-intensity phases of work.
While full cooling stations may not always be practical due to the mobile nature of our work, we go to great lengths to provide relief from the sun. Shaded rest areas are created using pop-up tents or truck-mounted shade, and large umbrellas are distributed across sites to provide cover. This includes specific accommodations for flaggers, who spend long hours exposed in fixed positions.
Crews have access to cold water, electrolyte drinks and cooling towels wherever they’re working. If something doesn’t feel right, the expectation is to stop and speak up. No one is asked to push through unsafe conditions.
We don’t wait for summer to teach heat safety. From the moment a new hire joins the team, they go through rigorous onboarding that includes detailed instruction on heat-related illness prevention, recognition and response. Certifications from the Alliance Safety Council, industrial facility owners and OSHA reinforce our high standards. That foundation sets the tone for everything that follows.
Beyond initial onboarding, every employee participates in ongoing training that includes seasonal safety refreshers focused on extreme weather. These sessions go beyond standard guidance and are tailored to the real-world conditions of concrete and hauling jobs. Crews are trained to:
We use a team-based approach on every job site. Everyone looks out for each other, and leadership sets the expectation that safety is a shared responsibility.
The equipment we operate—volumetric mixers, haul trucks, GPS-guided pouring systems—gets the job done with efficiency and precision. But in the heat, equipment can also become part of the problem if it isn’t maintained or monitored correctly.
Our maintenance teams ensure cabs have working air conditioning and that cooling systems are checked before every haul. Trucks are scheduled for downtime during peak heat hours when needed, and materials are staged in shaded or cooled areas whenever possible to prevent premature setting or temperature-related mix issues.
Volumetric technology helps too. Because we produce concrete on-site in real time, we eliminate the need to store hot material in transit. That control over the process gives us flexibility and precision, even in tough weather.
Communication is everything in this environment. Supervisors hold daily safety briefings and maintain clear lines of communication with crew leads and drivers throughout the day. Everyone knows how to signal an issue and who to turn to when something isn’t right.
Twice-daily heat index alerts help keep everyone aligned and aware of changing conditions. Mobile updates and GPS tools let us respond quickly, especially if the weather shifts in the middle of a job. When the stakes are high, staying connected isn’t optional—it’s essential.
South Louisiana summers are intense, but they don’t slow us down when we’re prepared. With a safety-forward mindset, a strong HSE program, and leadership that leads by example, Daigle Industries continues to show what it means to take care of people while delivering excellent results.
Heat safety isn’t something we revisit once a year—it’s part of the way we build, the way we lead and the way we serve South Louisiana.
