Hot On The Job At The Monroe Regional Airport

Well it doesn't look like we're getting any cooler any time soon. Temperatures are in the triple digits on the first day of summer and it's just the beginning. It’s a nightmare for people who earn a living outside. It’s one in the afternoon and for Constructors and Erectors it's really heating up. "It's hot as **** out there,” said C & E foreman Tony Allen. Tony Allen and his crew are putting up steel beams at Monroe’s Regional Airport. "It doesn't get much warmer than this,” said worker Brandon Striklin. "You really get used to it but then again it'll sneak up on you,” said Allen. For these men working in the heat is just part of the job, but surviving it is harder than it looks; try staying cool when heat radiates off everything you work on. "The iron is brightening and it amplifies the heat off this shiny material,” said Allen. "I bet you could fry an egg in a matter of a few seconds up there on a piece of that iron,” said Stricklin. Wait did he just say fry an egg? Ok so we have an iron skillet, let's crack the egg and see what happens. The egg’s been sitting here for 30 minutes and although it’s not completely cooked, the skillet is still pretty hot to the touch. The men say to beat the heat they do the opposite of what most do: add extra clothing including long sleeves. It protects them from the sun and believe it or not keeps them cool???? "Once you saturate one of the t-shirts your soak and wet so when your up here it helps having something damp on you,” said Stricklin. The crew says the construction in the heat takes time to get used to; it means eating right, drinking water and pacing yourself. "If you eat a big lunch it's not good, you feel like you're really slow,” said worker Hunter Sandlin. "Just keep it steady, take plenty of breaks,” said Allen. So after 10 hours taking in the sun, the crew says they'll get plenty of rest and do it all over again tomorrow. "You're ready to sit down and relax a little bit, drink a cold beer,” said Sandlin. "Three beers and a right to sleep for as long as I can make it happen till 5'oclock in the morning," said Allen. The crew and anyone else can expect temperatures in the triple digits several times over the summer months. Despite years in the business many on the crew say they'll be back again in the future.