YORK COUNTY, Pa. — With 90-degree temperatures expected all week in central Pennsylvania, many are trying to find ways to beat the heat.
But some workers don’t have a choice.
Construction workers in York County are determined to push through brutal temperatures to get the job done.
“These conditions can be pretty brutal, especially when the shingles are adding 10 to 15 degrees on top of everything,” said Jaren Miller, a roofing technician at Miller’s Roofing. “As long as you stay hydrated and get in the shade when you can it’s alright.”
Miller works for his father Joshua Miller’s roofing company out of York County. Joshua says that although his son can bear the heat, there have been new recruits who can't.
“Luckily, I have men that have been working for me for multiple years and are used to it. With a gentleman who would start, we would find out very quickly if he can withstand the heat,” Joshua said.
He says that his men work 10-hour days with an hour to an hour and a half break, depending on how hot it is. He also said the heat tends to burn his workers’ feet through their boots, causing them to change shoes midday.
“With the heat just hitting you consistently and obviously kind of all the noise you can’t hear your coworkers, so it gets frustrating, but we work through it together," said Luis Lopez, a crew leader for Miller’s Roofing.
He added that their family-oriented team eats and drinks plenty of fruits, cold subs, Gatorades, and water to help them to get through temperatures like Wednesday’s.
“I just like to stop working and just enjoy that breeze because it’s a one in a million that you feel that breeze,” said Lopez.