Snow is just one concern when it comes to working outside during winter.
Construction safety is important every day of the year, but during winter when the snow is falling, ice is slicking the streets, and everyone is getting chilly, construction safety is even more important. How can you stay safe during the long and cold winter while working in dangerous and cold conditions?
Pay Attention to the Water and Limit Your Exposure
The first two construction safety tips for the winter are to pay attention to the forecast and limit your exposure to any bad weather. Make sure that your employees are going out to job sites during the best possible weather and not heading out to a bridge on a day with a foot of snow on the ground and sleet falling from the sky! Always pay attention to local weather forecasts and know when weather conditions prevent any work from being able to happen.
Beyond knowing the weather, limiting your exposure to it is crucial. Make sure that workers have warm clothing and proper safety gear before they head outside. Keep in mind that they will need a warm break room and breaks more frequently than usual to properly maintain their body temperatures. If workers stay outside for too long, aside from other health effects, they will start to lose dexterity and make mistakes they would not otherwise.
Review Gear and the Site Beforehand
Other than paying attention to the weather, make sure that you pay attention to the gear and the site itself before you get started. Workers must be wearing the proper clothing or they should not be admitted to the job site. Everyone should have on heavy waterproof boots, heavy coats, gloves, hats, and warm thick socks. The goal should be to stay warm and dry for as long as possible. The job site is another area that needs a little extra attention. Make sure that no new hazards sprung up overnight, especially after a snowstorm or icy weather event. Following these construction safety tips will ensure a safe winter for everyone on your team.
Choose Concrete Visions for Your Construction Safety Needs
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar in many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give us a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.