Beating the Heat: Manassas Park Public Works

While most of us are dodging the miserable summer heat, Manassas Park Public Works employees have no choice but to stay out in shifts that can last from 7:30 in the morning until three in the afternoon.

While many of their strategies are common sense, such as taking breaks, staying hydrated and finding air conditioning whenever possible, many employees working outside said the best tactic was get work done early.

“We just try to get out as early as we can and do the worst part of the job early in the morning when it’s the coolest,” Jeff Wright, who works in the street department, said. “You try to do the mowing then before it gets hot.”

Wright said that workers like him learn to put up with the heat.

“It’s muggy, but if you’re out in it every day you get used to it,” Wright said. “If it gets too hot, there’s not much you can do about that.”

Wednesday morning, Wright and others members of the street division were mowing the medians of Manassas Drive at around 7 a.m., trying to get the hard work out of the way before heat of the day kicked in. 

“You try to find some shade and stay cool,” said Donald Harris of the street department. “Don’t over-exert yourself and stay hydrated. Beat the heat and get out early.”

Adrian Tibbs, who also works in the street department, says the secret to keeping cool is where you put the water.

“If you put a little cold water on your wrists, it brings your temperature down, because the veins are there,” Tibbs said.

Tibbs also has a spray bottle that he wears around his waist like a fanny-pack. Whenever he or his co-workers are particularly hot, he sprays them with the bottle. 

“It’s my technique to staying cool,” Tibbs said. 

Chris Coleman, who runs the streetsweeper, has his work cut out for him in an air-conditioned vehicle.

“[You] pace yourself, watch the truck and watch the street, especially in the summer, there are a lot of kids out,” Coleman said.