Certain workplaces miserable when heat rises
It’s been said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Well, some area workers simply can’t. While acknowledging that it’s tough for anyone to endure temperatures in the 90s and high humidity like the region has experienced this week, area workers say working next to a 350-degree grill all day presents an even greater challenge.
Rhonda David, owner of Hot Diggity Dogs in downtown Uniontown, said she and her employees take turns doing just that, operating the 350-degree grill and 475-degree fryer.
“We take turns so we don’t overwhelm one person on these hot days,” David said.
While it’s plenty cool in the restaurant’s dining room, David said there’s little relief for anyone cooking the day’s burgers, hot dogs or various fried foods.
The key, she said, is to make sure everyone takes frequent breaks – particularly after the lunch rush – and to keep hydrated.
Joe Rush, a cook at Michael Maria’s Pizza on Connellsville Street in Uniontown, said the heat was definitely affecting the staff as they worked preparing food Wednesday afternoon.
“When you walk in from outside, you feel a little bit cooler for about two seconds, but it is hot in here,” Rush said.
Rush said the pizza ovens keep the shop about as hot as the outside temperature, which was expected to reach the low to mid-90s on Wednesday, according to HSTV meteorologist Guy Nestor.
“Even with the heat, we are still busy, though,” Rush said. “But it does seem we are selling more salads.”
But it’s not just restaurant employees who are affected during these hottest days. Businesses that many don’t think of – such as dry cleaners – also feel the higher temperatures.
It is a hot job on a normal summer day at French’s Cleaners Inc. on South Mount Vernon Avenue in Uniontown, where temperatures always climb to more than 80 degrees in the hot, humid cleaning rooms.
But on days like Wednesday, French’s owner Bill Kittridge said it becomes almost unbearable.
“The trick is to start super early and try to shut down production as soon as we can, around 1 or 2 p.m., to beat the hottest time of day,” Kittridge said.
“But it usually only gets real bad when it gets like this.”
Kittridge said the cleaners tries to supply as much ventilation as possible to keep air moving on the workers stuck in the sweltering environment, but noted that when the temperatures climb into the 90s outside, the temperatures inside reach more than 100 degrees.
“The only time we are happy about the temperature is in the winter,” Kittridge added, laughing.