Follow these tips in the case of a sinkhole.
Sinkholes, whether small and on your residential street or huge and gulping up cars in the city, are incredibly dangerous. Maintaining proper safety protocols around a sinkhole is a necessity. While sinkholes feel like they appear in an instant, they were actually developing under the surface for quite some time. The severity of the sinkhole depends on the amount of time the sinkhole has been developing and the extent that the ground underneath the pavement has been washed away. Here are some of our best sinkhole safety tips.
Sinkhole Safety Tips
When you see a sinkhole appear:
- Tape off the surrounding area so that nobody walks closer to the sinkhole. This is especially important because the edges of the collapsed sinkhole are often residing over another piece of the sinkhole that hasn’t collapsed yet.
- If you are working in an area with clay soil, have the ground scanned every few years with a GPR service. This will detect any anomalies in the ground below and catch the problem before it becomes a devastating sinkhole.
- Even if the hole seems to be small, keep in mind that it might go down deep into the ground. Many sinkholes appear to be small from above, but go down 15-20 feet. Stepping into a sinkhole, in that scenario, is one dangerous bet you’re making with your life!
- Call a professional used to dealing with sinkholes, like Concrete Visions, immediately. We can assess the area, see if the sinkhole extends further, and complete the repairs needed to restore your street or yard back to rights.
- Notify your insurance company if the sinkhole is on your property. Also notify the utility companies in the area, as they may need to temporarily cut gas service to the affected area.
- Check for recent cracks in sidewalks or foundations regularly, as these are often early signs of sinkhole activity.
Constuction Safety and GPR Scanning from Concrete Visions
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 is a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.