Summer temps are arriving and climbing, making our mission to stay hydrated critically important.
Cold ice water is available throughout the yard on Mondays and Thursdays, but it doesn’t happen on its own. It takes crafts pitching in to do their part.
Across the yard, big blue water bins are staged in dozens of locations. Forklift operators and craft teams work together to fill each bin with ice and bottled water, and get it transported to its designated location.
Each craft is assigned a day to support water distribution, helping load ice and water into the coolers. Then, forklift drivers move them to their designated locations — sometimes eight or more coolers per route.
“We deliver everywhere — the yard, the fab shops, the dry docks. We get it where it needs to go,” said Alex Strong, Transportation & Material Handling.
The Hull department has taken hydration support a step further. For the last five years, material runners have carried large ice chests on their trucks, stocked and iced down every morning.
“We keep those coolers iced down because you never know who’s going to need a drink,” said Jenni Jones, Hull Chief of Staff. “If we’re rolling by and someone looks hot, flag us down. We look out for everyone, not just our own crews.”
Water distribution may not look like welding or laying pipe or pulling cable, but it helps keep people safe and is one of the few tasks that truly touches every corner of the yard.
Do you know the signs of heat stress? Heat Stress | Prepare Now, Stay Ready
For emergencies, call ext. 6101 from any shipyard phone or 228-935-6101 from a cell phone.
Photo Caption: Shipfitter Joyce Morgan ices down a cooler on a Hull truck to distribute to shipbuilders across the yard.