Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:33 am
That's just the point -- Horatio Caine (nor for that matter, whats-his-nose that portrays him) -- looks nowt like anyone I've ever seen in Miami -- and I've spent a fair bit of time there! (By the way, the Latin population covers up and wears sunscreen, too!)
LLL, by the way -- believe it or not, the coastal parts of Florida (including Tampa and Miami) have never seen an actual air temperature of 100F -- and nowhere close to 120F. The "feels like" temperature can be more -- and the temperature when working on pavement or, God forbid, a roof is much higher -- but not the actual temps.
Our usual summer highs are 95-98F, which is about 35C -- but that, combined with 85-95% humidity do make the summer an absolute beast. Many of the crews I see do knock off for a couple of hours during the most wretched parts of the day, then they work a bit later into the evening, and start at the very first light. Workmen's compensation insurance is thus really, really expensive for the contractor, because heat-related injuries and dehydration are life-threatening conditions at that heat and humidity -- and workmen's comp is a required insurance for any contractor who has a crew.
The roofing crews have it worst, though -- not only is it bearish hot, but when installing a roof that reflects at all, it tends to leave them half-blind, even if they wear welders' glasses -- and many a roofer walks right off the edge of the roof because he just couldn't see it.
The spring and autumn are a paver's (or any other contractor, for that matter!) dream, though -- highs in the 80's (25c) like this week, lows in the 70s (20c) and not a hint of rain for weeks on end -- at least until June, when the rainy season starts.
LLL, by the way -- believe it or not, the coastal parts of Florida (including Tampa and Miami) have never seen an actual air temperature of 100F -- and nowhere close to 120F. The "feels like" temperature can be more -- and the temperature when working on pavement or, God forbid, a roof is much higher -- but not the actual temps.
Our usual summer highs are 95-98F, which is about 35C -- but that, combined with 85-95% humidity do make the summer an absolute beast. Many of the crews I see do knock off for a couple of hours during the most wretched parts of the day, then they work a bit later into the evening, and start at the very first light. Workmen's compensation insurance is thus really, really expensive for the contractor, because heat-related injuries and dehydration are life-threatening conditions at that heat and humidity -- and workmen's comp is a required insurance for any contractor who has a crew.
The roofing crews have it worst, though -- not only is it bearish hot, but when installing a roof that reflects at all, it tends to leave them half-blind, even if they wear welders' glasses -- and many a roofer walks right off the edge of the roof because he just couldn't see it.
The spring and autumn are a paver's (or any other contractor, for that matter!) dream, though -- highs in the 80's (25c) like this week, lows in the 70s (20c) and not a hint of rain for weeks on end -- at least until June, when the rainy season starts.
