Just before 9 a.m. Thursday, the sun was already high and hot over Moccasin Bend Golf Course, and Woodford the Chesapeake Bay retriever wagged his tongue and his tail - another start to a high-90s day here in the city.
Again Thursday, the heat index reached above 100 degrees. The National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., issued a simple online warning on its orange-colored map of Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia: "Very Hot Today!"
And again today (and tomorrow and the day after), temperatures will soar and humidity will stifle the area.
This kind of misery can't be ignored, even by workers who spend their days outdoors and who are accustomed to battling the weather. And this heat can't be beaten, only managed. Regular breaks, cold water and shade are your friends.
With Woodford riding shotgun in a golf cart, Chad Malone, course superintendent at Moccasin Bend Golf Course, checked a putting green just before 9 a.m. Thursday morning, his every footstep leaving a mark on the grass where the course had been watered the night before.
Malone started work at 7 a.m. An hour-and-a-half into his day, sweat already soaked parts of his shirt.
Some of Malone's grounds crew have been starting as early as 3 or 4 a.m., anything to avoid working and mowing in the hottest part of the day.
"It seems to be a little more tolerable if you start out with it early in the morning and you stay with it throughout the day," Malone said.
He makes sure to keep fluids going, even if he doesn't feel thirsty.
Malone also eats a lot of watermelon in the evenings. And avoids soda and alcohol.
"The real key about dealing with the heat if you're out in it all day is what you do the night before," Malone said.
Precaution can't be overstated
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns workers to take the risks of heat seriously, especially those working outdoors. Direct exposure to sunlight can increase the heat index by up to 15 degrees, meaning 99 degrees feels more like 114 degrees.
In 2014, more than 2,600 workers in the U.S. were hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses - and 18 workers died on the job from heat stroke or other related complications.
OSHA recommends workers drink water every 15 minutes and rest regularly beneath shade. The regulatory body also recommends wearing a hat and light-colored clothes, and taking it easy outside if you're not used to the heat. Employers are advised to ease new or inexperienced workers into outdoor work this time of year.
Employers are required by law to provide a safe and harm-free workplace.
T.J. Tallent, co-owner of Chattanooga-based Tallent Roofing and Construction, doesn't need a reminder to take care of his guys this time of year, because he's right out there with them.
"The main thing is we start early," Tallent said. "We start before daylight."
On top of exposure to direct sunlight, roofers deal with the blistering heat of shingles and metal roof coverings, which amplify the effects of a hot summer day.
Tallent said when it's this hot - 115 degrees, heat index included - the job is hot no matter what material you're dealing with.
Shingles are notoriously miserable, and heavy to tote.
And with metal, "you can't hardly touch it," said Tallent. With rubber roofing material, "the black absorbs the heat, so it's hot as fire," he said.
"When you're on top of a roof and the sun is beaming down, it doesn't matter," Tallent said.
Like Malone, Tallent said it's important to take care of yourself this time of year, even when you're off the job.
"You've got to stay hydrated, even after you get home," he said. "A lot of times in this heat, you'll cramp up even after the fact."
But Tallent does see the silver lining in the situation - at least it isn't winter.
"The days are shorter, it's so much colder and I can't stand cold weather," he said. "In the summertime, you can get out there early, and get off early and have your whole evening to go fishing, go swimming."
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.