It’s that time of year again, when construction workers—and anyone else who works in the elements—must prepare to face an onslaught of hot, sticky weather. That’s why it’s imperative to learn how construction workers can stay cool (and safe) in the heat.

This type of weather isn’t just an inconvenience for outdoor workers. It reduces productivity and can also be extremely dangerous.

But construction workers can beat the heat by taking a few simple precautions. Here’s a list of our top ways to cool down when the mercury goes up.

The Danger of Working in Extreme Heat

Statistics show that construction workers are at an elevated risk of death, illness, injury, and reduced productivity when working in extreme heat. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) says nearly 300 construction workers died on the job from heat-related causes between 1992 and 2016, representing more than one-third of all heat-related occupational deaths in the U.S.

Further research over a 10-year period showed that U.S. construction workers were 13x more likely to die from heat-related issues than other workers, along with productivity declines and increased stress parameters, including elevated heart rates.

How Construction Workers Can Stay Cool in Extreme Heat

Get Acclimated

While this mostly applies to newer workers or those who have been off the job for a while, everyone needs to get acclimated to the heat when the seriously hot weather comes around to avoid thermal stress and the dangerous outcomes it can produce. Acclimation to the heat benefits your heart and other organs and helps improve the body’s ability to sweat.

Most heat experts say it takes one to two weeks to acclimate to the heat (while this may sound unproductive to some, it’s a lot more productive than suffering heat exhaustion or heatstroke).