Working in construction can be dangerous if proper safety precautions aren’t met. Contractors work with heavy machinery and unstable materials daily. Here are some facts to help you to visualize the importance of safety on a construction site.

1. About 20% Of Worker Fatalities per Year in Private Industry Were in Construction

Falls are one of the most common injuries sustained by laborers. Many work on ladders or scaffolding to repair roofing and siding. In fact, 42% of construction workers’ deaths involve falls.

To prevent falls, have a safety plan in place. Before starting a project, know what equipment you will use that day and properly inspect it. Also, provide employees with the proper safety gear, such as harnesses. Then train them on how to set up the equipment.

Electrocution or being hit by an object are other common injuries. These can result from faulty power lines or misusing equipment. Make sure all electrical equipment is properly grounded or double insulated. Also, before repairing a tool, make sure it is unplugged.

2. Businesses Spend $170 Billion a Year on Costs Associated With Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

While injuries primarily impact workers, they also affect the whole business. When you pay to help take care of your employees, it takes from the company’s total profits. There is then less money to pay for material costs, permits, and insurance. Saving money is critical since supply prices have risen. In fact, concrete expenses have increased by about 13%.

3. Implementing a Safety Program Can Reduce Injury and Illness Costs by 20-40%

Having daily safety talks is critical to ensure all employees are on the same page. The meeting should discuss relevant topics, such as how to operate the equipment. It should also discuss information relevant to the type of worker. For example, a construction crew will need to discuss working in colder climates. On the other hand, a warehouse crew will talk about safely using power lifts.

Safety meetings hold everyone responsible and keep workers focused. It’s also a good time to discuss any new updates to prevent miscommunication in the future. In addition, discussing any past incidents will help you learn from previous mistakes.

4. In 2019, the Median Days Away From Work After a Work Injury or Illness in the Construction Industry Was 13 Days

Work injuries can cause contractors to lose valuable time. Taking days off due to injury can cause financial strain. It can also impact their future performance, depending on the extent of the injury. With fewer workers, the business is less productive, losing profits.

Having more employees call off is an issue for the current staffing shortage. In fact, the industry needs 2.2 million more workers in the next three years to keep up with current demands. The construction industry plays a key role in supplying the housing market. As fewer properties are being built, housing prices continue to rise. So, it’s vital to prioritize safety and increase communication in the workplace.

5. OSHA’s Maximum Penalty for a “Serious” Violation Is $13,653 per Violation

If you don’t take safety seriously, you can receive hefty fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Paying these fines takes away money for quality building materials and employee compensation.

Therefore, it’s important to review the guidelines carefully. For example, only those employees qualified and trained can operate equipment and machinery. Also, you must supply protective equipment to all employees, including respirators. Being safe prevents workers’ injuries and reduces unnecessary expenses.

6. Employers Pay Almost $1 Billion a Week in Workers’ Compensation Costs Alone

Many employers may not consider the hidden costs of worker injuries. However, they can take away from a business’s overall profit margin. In addition, workers may not feel safe coming to work knowing these statistics. Having high compensation costs can also cause companies to lose prospective employees.

To prevent injuries, focus on having a good safety program in place. Look at online resources, such as OSHA, for tips and relevant articles. You also want to ensure that any new managers are properly trained on how to encourage safety on-site.

7. About  67% Of Construction Workers Feel Standards Are Higher for Productivity Than for Safety

Construction projects involve precise focus to ensure foundations and fixtures are properly installed. So, many employees feel like productivity is more important than their well-being. Profit is more often emphasized in daily meetings, while construction safety is less frequently discussed. This could lead to employees feeling nervous about speaking up about questionable conditions.

To prevent hidden injuries, encourage open communication. Also, make sure to check in with your employees’ mental health. With COVID-19, many people are facing added stress. Consider offering more wellness-based programs, like yoga or meditation classes.

8. There Were an Average of 42 Crane-related Deaths From 2011 to 2017

Cranes are dangerous objects that can lead to injury if not properly used. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring objects are securely attached when moving. Only qualified people should operate the device and should read the manual carefully. Also, perform regular inspections on the equipment and clear a pathway before travel.

Remember to have a signaler guide the operator. They can warn of potential hazards and notify the rest of the crew when the machine is in motion. When buying a lift, you want to make sure it’s best suited for the environment. For example, crawler treads and heavy lifts are better for outdoor settings.

9. In 2019, Construction Workers Aged 25-34 Were Most Likely to Sustain an Injury on the Job

This age group tends to be the most physically fit. So, they may handle more of the labor-intensive tasks, such as operating the forklift. However, these are more dangerous. They also may have less experience than older workers, leading to more mistakes. The proper training and assistance on complex jobs can prevent injuries.

10. Over 60% Of Construction Accidents Occur Within an Employee’s First Year of Work

Training is vital before a contractor can start working on projects. However, a lack of proper training in the first year can lead to injury. One way to improve these programs is to have them during business hours and make them mandatory. Having a mix of in-class and web-based training can help meet a variety of employees’ needs.

During the course, it’s important that employees feel comfortable asking questions. Also, make sure they have hands-on experience. Have them complete the task in a low-risk setting first.

Importance of Safety in Construction

Based on these stats, the construction industry can be dangerous. However many of these injuries can be prevented with simple safety measures. So, consider sharing this information with your employees.

Author’s Bio

Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction, home improvement, and contracting topics. She is also the managing editor of Renovated.com, a site dedicated to the latest trends in the home industry. She has a passion for innovative technologies that are making the home industry sustainable and efficient. Check out Renovated.com to see more of her work.

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Employee safety should be of great concern to every employer. Employers are responsible for everything from the safety of the building to the way they carry out procedures. Safety measures need to be in place by law, but there are changes you can make, above and beyond regulation, that can improve your warehouse safety tenfold. The safety and wellbeing of your employees should be a top priority as lack of safety can be costly to you.

Tips to Improve Your Warehouse Safety

We’ve gathered a few tips and tricks for improving your warehouse safety. Take a look below and start making your workplace safer today.

1.  Safe vehicle and equipment usage

Anyone who is using vehicles or machinery should have full training, even if he does not have the certification. Forklifts in particular cause a huge number of injuries, around 95,000, every year. To use a forklift, an employer must be over 18 and have full certification before use.

Other ways you can improve the safety of vehicle operation within your warehouse are by adding bumpers to racking and columns and having strict disciplinary procedures for anyone misusing the equipment.

2.  Personal protective equipment

PPE must be provided to every employee. PPE includes suitable footwear, usually steel-capped boots, hard hats, masks, and goggles. High visibility clothing is also helpful in increasing safety as it makes pedestrians much easier to see from vehicles.

3.  Moving and handling

In 2018/19, 6.9 million workdays were lost due to injuries from poor moving and handling. This shows the need for proper training for every employee in the correct way to lift and move objects.

With 20% of non-fatal accidents happening in the workplace in 18/19 because of poor moving and handling, this is an obvious and easy way to improve the safety of your warehouse.

4.  Shelf and racking safety

Every shelf will have a maximum weight and employees should be trained in the correct way to distribute this weight evenly across the shelves to ensure their safety. Furthermore, employees should also be trained to ensure that no objects are loose or able to fall from the shelves.

Falling objects caused 10% of non-fatal injuries in the workplace in 2018/19, so with proper training, this figure could easily be decreased.

5.  Signage

Proper signage can increase the safety of your warehouse in seconds. Brightly colored signage should already be in place to indicate emergency stations, such as fire exits, first aid kits, and eye washing stations.

For increased safety, try adding signage for vehicles, such as floor markings. Adding in floor-markings can separate vehicles from pedestrians and decrease the number of collisions in your warehouse.

6.  Guard rails or stanchions

And another way to separate pedestrians and vehicles could be to add in guard rails or stanchions. Not only will this decrease the number of collisions, but it will also ensure that vehicle operators move more slowly and with more concentration around the warehouse.

7.  Working at a height

The biggest cause of fatal accidents and a ¼ of all workplace deaths in 2018/19, working at a height must be carried out with extreme care. Employees must receive training in the proper procedures for working at a height. Of course, they should avoid it wherever possible.

Employers should approve using only proper machinery, such as MEWP. Also, They should make sure that where necessary, only fully qualified employees with adequate certifications will use them.

8.  Lighting

Good lighting is a very simple way to increase safety in your warehouse. Being able to see signage, walkways, and equipment properly can ensure that people will follow safety procedures.

It is possible to avoid hazards and deal with them if employees can see them properly. Therefore, fitting adequate lighting can improve the safety of your workplace.

9.  Regular retraining

Regular team meetings and retraining sessions can ensure that all team members know up-to-date safety procedures. Covering common causes of workplace incidents, such as slips and trips, can help to keep employees aware of hazards and potential incidents throughout their time in employment.

10. Employee wellbeing

Fatigue, exhaustion, and other distractions can cause accidents and incidents in the workplace. Employees who are overtired or overworked may not be as focused, nor as alert, as is necessary to maintain proper safety standards.

As an employer, you can ensure employees’ wellbeing by making sure their shifts aren’t too long, that they are getting enough breaks for the shifts they are working, and that there is enough time for adequate rest in between shifts.

Employee well-being, both in terms of physical safety and mental, is your responsibility as an employer, and properly looking after it can ensure a more productive and focussed team.

Conclusion

The safety of your warehouse and your staff is your responsibility as an employer. Following regulations can ensure this safety and add in extra precautions can only increase the safety of the workplace.

In case you have architectural, structural, and MEP design requirements, feel free to contact us.  We provide you with the full permit set design + T24.

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1. Cold Stress

The human body can adapt to most situations, but extreme heat or cold can easily be dangerous or even fatal. Working outdoors in the wintertime, especially in areas that experience extreme cold, can put workers at risk for a variety of cold stressors and cold-related injuries such as:

• Hypothermia — Extended exposure to cold temperatures that cause the body’s core temperature to drop. It can be fatal if left untreated.
• Chilblains — Painful inflammation of small blood vessels when skin is repeatedly exposed to cold but non-freezing temperatures.
• Trench foot — Occurs when feet are not kept properly warm and dry, causing them to lose heat faster. In extreme cases, it can cause tissue damage and develop into gangrene.
• Frostbite — When body parts are exposed to freezing temperatures for extended periods. Incredibly painful and can result in amputation.

There are a few steps you can take to prevent these cold stressors from causing injuries or incidents on your job sites. Start by ensuring that everyone is wearing the proper clothing, from layered shirts and pants to gloves and water-resistant work boots. Make sure that your team has a place that they can go to warm up and encourage them to do so often. Finally, pay close attention to your crew and learn to spot the signs of these various cold stresses.

2. Snow Removal

It’s a lot easier to work through the cold winter months if you’re not trying to navigate through a few feet of snow on the ground. Removing snow is often a challenging task. According to FEMA, a square foot of light, fluffy snow can weigh as little as 3 pounds. However, but it’s packed and topped with ice, that same square foot can weigh up to 57 pounds.

Removing snow by hand could result in back injuries or other repetitive motion issues that could have lasting consequences. Additionally, snow removal is responsible for upwards of 100 deaths every year, according to the National Safety Council.

Make arrangements for removing snow from your job site whenever possible. This might include investing in snowblowers or other similar materials, or treating the site with de-icing chemicals, or even bringing in a professional snow removal service to reduce the risk of injuries.

3. Trenching Hazards

As long as you’re not in a zone where the ground freezes solid every winter, excavation and trenching are still possible. Even in the warmer months, trenching can be dangerous — in fact, the fatality rate for excavation is 112% higher than the rest of the construction industry. That’s saying a lot when you consider that construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in year-round.

Avoiding trenching hazards isn’t always possible, but you can mitigate the potential for injuries or fatalities by maintaining comprehensive safety measures, regardless of the exterior temperature. A single cubic yard of dirt can weigh as much as your average vehicle. That number can only go up if the dirt is wet or topped with snow and ice.

Trenches deeper than 5 feet need to be secured with a trench box, and according to OSHA standards, anything deeper than 20 feet needs an engineer to design safety protocols to prevent trenching hazards.

4. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

No one likes to be stuck out in the cold for long periods. It’s tempting to bring all of your equipment and tools indoors while you’re working.  However, for anything that uses gasoline, propane, or diesel as its primary source of fuel, this can be dangerous or even deadly. The carbon monoxide and dioxide that each device emits as part of its exhaust can build up in an enclosed space and become dangerous very quickly.

Any devices that emit exhaust need to be used in a well-ventilated area or outside. There is no exception to this rule. Working outdoors is ideal but that isn’t always possible. In those cases, comprehensive ventilation or even a portable fume hood can keep the air safe and breathable.

5. Slips and Falls

Slip and fall injuries are among the most common in the construction industry. They’re so common, in fact, that they’ve earned a spot among OSHA’s “Fatal Four” — the four injury types responsible for a good portion of workplace deaths in the construction industry. The risk of these injuries climbs when you add ice to the mix.

There are a few steps that you can take to prevent slippery surfaces from causing on-the-job injuries. Take the time to treat frequently trafficked paths and walkways with road salt or other de-icing chemicals. Encourage everyone to take their time while they walk so they can be sure of their footing. You may even want to encourage your crew to wear ice spikes or cleats to improve traction.

6. Winter Driving Accidents

Driving can be dangerous at the best of times. However, when you throw snow, sleet, and ice into the mix, it becomes downright hazardous. A low-speed fender bender becomes a high-speed collision when you try to step on the brakes, hit a patch of ice, and start spinning out of control. Winter driving accidents, both on- and off-site, put everyone at risk.

Winter driving accidents aren’t always avoidable, but there are steps you can take to reduce their frequency and impact. Emphasize safe driving practices. Consider implementing fleet tracking technologies that will give you the tools to identify people that speed or take part in other unsafe driving behaviors.

7. Melting Issues

Winter temperatures often vary, so the snow that’s on the ground one night can completely melt before the next. Snow melts happen periodically throughout the winter season and on construction sites. This occurs especially if excavations are incomplete, or there are large icicles dangling from overhanging edges. There are no official statistics regarding this hazard, but according to OSHA, at least 16 people have died from these hazards over the past 10 years.

Pay close attention to the weather and monitor the temperature at your job site. It sounds simple, but understanding how the temperature is changing can keep you alert and aware of when melting issues might crop up. Don’t attempt to remove icicles or snowdrifts while you’re standing directly beneath them. Also, take any necessary precautions to prevent water from snow and ice melt from building up in trenches or other excavation projects.

Keep Your Job Sites Safe This Winter

Wintertime doesn’t mean your work schedule needs to grind to a halt.  However, you do need to be aware of seasonal construction risks that you might not encounter during the rest of the year. This isn’t an exhaust list, but it does detail some of the most common winter construction site hazards. Stay alert and keep your job site safe this winter.

In case you have architectural, structural, and MEP design requirements, feel free to contact us.  We provide you with the full permit set design + T24.

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Falls, the leading cause of death in the construction industry, are among roofing hazards to workers when they work in roof maintenance. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls from roofs account for 34 percent of all fall-related fatalities each year. As a responsible business owner, ensuring the safety of your employees should be a top priority, and conforming to OSHA’s guidelines is your best way of doing this.

This post looks at some common hazards for roofers.

Fall Hazards

When working at heights, keep an eye out for potential fall hazards. The following are some fundamental questions to ask yourself and your team:

Is the structure strong enough to support the weight? Is there anything to be on the lookout for? Are there any guardrails available for employees? Are the ladders or your towable boom lift in the proper location, and are they working correctly and not defective? When working from a height, use an inspection checklist to ensure that you ask the right questions and assess fall hazards.

Hazardous Materials

More common when working with older roofs is the possibility of coming into contact with hazardous materials. For example, Such materials as asbestos can be life-changing to workers who aren’t fully equipped to deal with findings of this nature. Therefore, ensure all roofers or workers who need to access this area have full training to identify the different materials and know-how to handle and approach dangerous materials.

Weather Hazards

Working on a roof needs to be undertaken in all weather conditions. It includes exposure to inclement weather such as rain or snow along with extreme temperatures. Your workers need to know how to protect themselves and work safely when facing various weather conditions. Thorough training on how to dress appropriately or handle excessive heat from tools needs to be implemented to comply with safety guidelines and ensure everyone is safe at all times.

Electrical Hazards

With electrical hazards accounting for 52 percent of all fatal workplace electrical accidents in the United States, the construction industry is particularly vulnerable. Electrical hazards pose the greatest danger to workers who work on rooftops or in close proximity to power lines. Mishandling of electrical equipment can result in massive electrical shocks, burns, fires, and even death. Carry out regular electrical safety checks to identify and control potential electrocution causes to avoid accidents from occurring.

Power Tool Hazards

There is no denying that working with power tools is vital for roofing work. However, working at a height with power tools can pose different challenges. In addition, the delay in getting help should an accident occur can be life-threatening.  Therefore, implement ongoing and thorough training for all employees. Also, make sure they know how best to approach problems or concerns, and administer even basic first aid in an accident. Powering tools both off and on is vital, as is keeping a cool head in an emergency.

In case you have architectural, structural, and MEP design requirements, feel free to contact us.  We provide you with the full permit set design + T24.

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OSHA’s Fatal Four

Construction may be one of the most dangerous fields to work in, but there are positions that are more hazardous than others. These risks are so common that they’ve earned the collective moniker of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” and are responsible for the majority of construction worker fatalities every year.

1. Falls

Falls from 4-6 feet might not seem like much, but landing badly could result in a crippling or even fatal injury, earning this hazard a place among OSHA’s Fatal Four. The easiest way to prevent falls is to provide proper fall arrest equipment for anyone working above a certain height, and strictly enforce its use.

2. Electrical Exposure

Exposure to electricity is a risk whenever a live wire is present, and it’s essential to take precautions. This includes comprehensive lock-out/tag-out procedures for any equipment that needs repairs or maintenance.

Operators who may be working near live power lines need to take extra caution to prevent electrocution that could occur should they come in contact with those lines.

3. Struck-By

This particular hazard can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from workers struck by falling objects dropped from an excessive height, to those who find themselves running afoul of a vehicle in motion.

The particulars of each situation will vary. However, for the above two situations, one is easily addressed by ensuring that everyone on-site wears the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats. The best solution for the other one is to take steps to keep pedestrians and operational vehicles separate whenever possible.

4. Caught-In/Caught-Between

Caught-in and caught-between situations are often among the most devastating, causing injuries and death. These hazards can occur when a worker ends up trapped between a vehicle and a stationary object when a trench or tunnel collapses, or when a building or lose materials fall.

Regardless of the details of the situation, the best way to avoid these incidents is to take all necessary steps to keep pedestrians and vehicles apart and to reinforce any potential danger points against collapse.

Noise Hazards

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 14% of construction workers have hearing difficulty, often as a direct result of their time on the job. Regular exposure to noises louder than 85 decibels can damage your hearing. In fact, many pieces of equipment used on the average construction site exceed this noise threshold.

Like some other safety hazards mentioned on this list, providing proper hearing protection or related PPE and strictly enforcing its use can help protect construction workers from noise hazards in the workplace.

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Hand-arm vibration syndrome, often abbreviated as HAVS, is a condition that can cause permanent nerve damage, muscle weakness, and other issues as a direct result of working with vibrating tools for a long period of time.

Preventing this hazard is often a question of how well a piece of equipment is maintained or how often it is used. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking frequent breaks while operating heavy equipment to prevent vibration from causing excessive damage.

Air Quality

From vehicle exhaust to fiberglass shards and respirable silicon dust, there are many variables that can negatively impact the air quality on a construction site, putting everyone in the vicinity at risk.

There are multiple ways to approach this situation and address these hazards. These include setting up ventilation in areas where the air is prone to becoming stagnant, investing in dust misting systems like those provided by Dustquip to help control airborne dust, and providing respirators and other PPE to anyone who might be impacted by the poor air quality.

A Lack of Proper Protective Equipment

Think of a situation on a construction site, and there is probably a piece of PPE designed specifically to address that variable. You won’t need every type of PPE ever. However, it is essential to have the equipment that applies to your particular field.

This could mean respirators for poor air quality situations, gloves to prevent electrocution, or hard hats to prevent falling materials and tools from causing injury or death. Make sure everyone has the necessary PPE and strictly enforce its use across every department and workflow.

Fire

When you’re using caustic chemicals and working with flammable materials, fire and explosion is always a risk. Therefore, ensure all flammable chemicals or materials are stored properly, preferably in their original container or a compliant alternative. Besides, have a fire safety plan in place. You need this plan so that everyone understands what to do to prevent fire. They should also learn what their responsibilities are if a fire should occur.

Confined Spaces

Working in confined spaces isn’t always a risk on construction sites. But, it can create a dangerous situation when it does occur. In addition to creating a caught-in/between situation, there is a risk that poor air quality in these spaces could be fatal.

Monitor the air quality in enclosed spaces at all times to ensure it is safe for operations. Yous should also determine whether workers need to equip respirators or other rescue gear to continue their work.

Making Construction Sites Safe

Construction may be one of the most dangerous industries to work in. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have prevention methods at our disposal. As we learned, many of the steps you can take to prevent these common safety hazards can be very simple.  Therefore, such steps should already be a part of your safety plans. All you need to do is ensure enforcing them. You can also add them to your safety plan if they aren’t already there.

In case you need any architectural and structural design requirements for your construction, feel free to contact us.

Author’s Bio:

Rose is the managing editor of Renovated. She’s most interested in sharing home projects and inspiration for the most novice of DIY-ers, values she developed growing up in a family of contractors.

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With that said, read on to learn more about putting together an AHA plan.

What Is an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA)?

An AHA or Activity Hazard Analysis is a document that helps employers and administrators manage, assess, and record the hazards associated with risky practices in the workplace. This Analysis is also referred to as a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). The evaluation includes the following:

Specifying the phases of each job along with the potential hazards, risk management, control procedures, equipment, preparation, and the workers required. All of this information should be written down and recorded.

AHA document reviews need careful checking and require revisions to cover conflicts and activities in the workplace. Also, the documentation should include discussions with competent staff members to make it richer.

The creation of communication measures between health officers for site protection and employees is essential. This should involve subcontractors and vendors interested in the production of the document as well.

What to Do Before Implementing an Activity Hazard Analysis Plan

There are a few things you should do before performing an activity hazard analysis, such as:

Include Your Employees

When you have the engagement of both managers and staff, the overall safety measures work better health and safety at workplace measures work better. It’s the employees’ daily work, so they understand procedures better than management. For the best protection, it’s smart to get your workers’ input. They can provide activity hazard analysis examples to help strengthen the plan.

Ask your employees what areas of the workplace are most hazardous, and write the information down for future references. Also, be sure to implement guards against the most urgent safety risks as soon as possible. Capturing and reviewing these insights through an employee engagement software can help teams share concerns openly and stay involved in ongoing safety improvements.

Look Over Previous Injuries

If you don’t know where to start, create an AHA template using previous injuries. Take a look at prior injuries and illnesses that occurred. This will provide a good indicator of the areas that need to be improved.

Also, ask your employees what additional details are helpful to the report.

Put the Plan Into Action

Once you’ve collected all of the data for the AHA analysis, put it into action. Make sure that all employees understand safety protocols. Put hazard management procedures on display in an area where it’s visible. That way, it’s easier to for workers to get a quick glimpse of safety protocols.
Also keep in mind that safety does not stop at identifying hazards. You need a clear plan for what happens after risks are addressed. That includes removing debris, damaged equipment, and waste created during corrective work. Using dumpsters for safe material disposal keeps walkways clear, reduces exposure to sharp or contaminated materials, and prevents secondary hazards from piling up. When you control how waste leaves the site, you support the AHA instead of undermining it. Are you setting up your work areas so hazards stay gone once they are fixed?

An Effective Activity Hazard Analysis Plan

Performing such a hazard analysis is the best way to ensure that employees are safe. When it comes to construction sites and similar environments, the risk of injury is a lot higher. As an employer, you have a big responsibility, and the welfare of your workers is in your hands.

If you’d like to read more content like this, feel free to browse our website. We have plenty of informative articles for our readers.

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1. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated when working in the heat is vital. There’s more to it than drinking water, though that is part of it. You should also eat foods that have high water content. Fruits and vegetables like melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes all fall into this category.

Make sure you’re also monitoring your salt and electrolyte levels, especially if you sweat heavily. Drinks like Gatorade can help keep your systems balanced while you work. Supervisors should be supplying both water and electrolytes, but if they don’t, make sure you’re drinking enough to stay hydrated.

2. Practice Sun Safety

Sunburns are uncomfortable and unnecessary. In addition to raising your risk of skin cancer, having a sunburn makes you more likely to remove safety gear or other clothing that might be chafing the already sensitive skin. There are multiple ways to protect yourself from the sun, ranging from applying — and reapplying — sunscreen throughout the day to working in the shade and wearing UV-protected clothing.

3. Monitor the Weather

In many parts of the country, summertime also brings heavy rain and severe storms that can seemingly blow up out of nowhere. Workers carrying out their tasks on rooftops or scaffolding could be at risk due to suddenly wet surfaces and high winds.

Ensure you’re constantly monitoring the weather and act accordingly. You don’t need to cancel an afternoon of work because of a thunderstorm, but you need to get people off the roof if lightning is flashing and you need to take extra precautions against slips and falls when surfaces are wet.

4. Dress Properly for the Weather

Managing Foot Comfort in Hot Weather

Working in high temperatures can often lead to issues like sweaty feet, which may cause discomfort and increase the risk of skin irritation or infections. Ensuring proper ventilation, wearing moisture-wicking socks, and choosing breathable footwear can significantly reduce these issues. Addressing common sweat-related foot conditions can help keep workers comfortable and focused on the job.

While we’re on the topic of weather, we should address appropriate attire. When the temperature climbs, it’s often tempting to wear as little as possible, but this doesn’t work on a construction site. Ensure you’re dressing properly for the weather. This could include long-sleeved shirts designed to protect your skin from the sunlight or outfits made of breathable fabrics. Workers should also always wear protective gear and closed-toed shoes.

5. Understand OSHA’s Fatal 4

There are many different ways to get hurt on a construction site, but some are more common than others. The top four risks that result in on-the-job deaths are known as OSHA’s Fatal 4. Falls are the No. 1 killer on construction sites, followed by electrical exposure, struck-by incidents, and caught-in/between accidents.

Don’t neglect other safety concerns that can happen year-round, such as forklift accidents and heavy lifting injuries. However, understanding the fatal four can make it easier to prevent them from happening on your site.

6. Take Frequent Breaks

Working from sunup to sundown might seem like the most efficient way to get the job done, but trying to push through an entire shift without breaks in the hot summer months is a fast way to find yourself suffering a heat-related illness. Make sure you’re taking frequent breaks in a shaded area to cool off.

Try to avoid moving in and out of air-conditioned areas if at all possible. The shocks to your system when moving from 100+ degree weather outdoors to 68-degree climate-controlled environments indoors can make it harder to adapt. This could increase your risk of heat-related illnesses.

7. Stay in the Shade

If you don’t have buildings or trees to provide shade on the job site, it’s a good idea to make your own. All you really need is a tarp and some rope to keep the sun off the work area. Shade cloth can also help you keep the sun off your head. You might have items you’d use in a landscaping project or a garden stashed away in your materials collection that would work well.

8. Recognize Signs of Heat-Related Illness

No one is immune from heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The important thing is to learn to recognize the signs so you can treat them or get medical attention as quickly as possible. Individuals with heat exhaustion will often sweat heavily, feel nauseous, and get dizzy or faint. They will need to be moved to a cool location and get lots of hydration.

Symptoms indicative of heat stroke include dry skin because the person has stopped sweating, as well as a fast pulse, dizziness, and nausea. Heatstroke victims need medical attention as soon as possible.

9. Opt for Safety Gear Designed for Heat

Don’t fall into the trap of taking off safety gear just because it’s hot out. Instead, opt for items designed for use in hot climates. Use mesh visibility vests that allow air to pass through instead of solid ones. Opt for well-ventilated hard hats, and when full-body gear is required, only wear them for short periods.

Water- or fan-cooled garments are also an option. Many brands of PPE offer auxiliary cooling systems that will help keep you cool with the equipment that keeps you safe.

10. Avoid Peak Hours

The hottest hours of the day are usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This also happens to fall during the normal shift for most construction companies, but if you’re concerned about summertime safety, consider restructuring your schedule.

Avoiding these peak hours might seem a little strange at first, but it can reduce your risk of experiencing heat-related illnesses and keep things moving forward no matter how hot it gets. Try starting your day earlier or taking a long break in the afternoon.

Stay Safe This Summer

Many of the safety challenges we face on a construction site are the same year-round. When temperatures start to climb, the heat adds a new layer of concern. Make sure you’re taking all the necessary steps to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun while still preventing other safety issues that can crop up at any time.

Author’s Bio
Rose Morrison is a freelance writer working on construction, home improvement, and contract topics. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated.com, a site dedicated to the latest trends in the housing industry. She is passionate about innovative technologies that make the home industry sustainable and efficient. Checking out Renovated.com to see more of her work.

The post Construction Safety – Top Tips for This Summer appeared first on S3DA DESIGN Structural and MEP Design.

Only Qualified and Certified Operators Can Operate the Crane

Cranes require specialized knowledge to operate safely. Note that every crane operator has load-lifting limits on their certifications and qualifications. So it is an essential element confirming that the operator who uses the crane is certified and qualified to operate or if the operator can lift the specific load limit of a particular lifting task. Operators should know the equipment and be well-versed in all of its proper safety procedures, including the appropriate hand signals by the riggers.

Choose the Right Crane for the Project

Selecting the right crane for the project is vital for safe crane operation. Whether it is a mobile or fixed crane, load-lifting capacity is essential in choosing the right crane for the job. Mainly fixed cranes are used in industrial or in high-rise construction projects. Mobile cranes come in varieties such as:

Crawler Crane: It is suitable for soft terrain sites because it has a continuous track instead of rubber wheels.

Carry Deck Crane: This type of mobile crane features easy set-up rotation. But it cannot handle rough terrain very well.

All Terrain Crane: This mobile crane can travel alone to the job site and handle rough terrain sites.

Rough Terrain Crane: This crane cannot travel on public roads, but it can efficiently handle complex grades and challenging terrain.

Telescopic Crane: This crane has a boom provided with a hydraulic cylinder that can change its boom length. It is mounted on a truck to transport from different working sites. It is highly adaptable in short-term construction projects.

There are dozens of different mobile cranes, but safe liftings begin with picking the right crane for your project.

Crane Rigging Considerations

Selecting the appropriate crane is just the beginning. The next essential step is ensuring the rigging is properly handled. For those aiming for the highest standards of safety and efficiency, opting for professional crane rigging services is a smart move. These experts specialize in securely attaching loads to cranes using an array of equipment like ropes, chains, and slings. Adjustable spreader bars for lifting are particularly useful in this setup, as they help distribute the weight evenly across the lifting points, ensuring stability and preventing load shifts. This is crucial for maintaining the load’s balance and control during lifting operations. It requires a collaborative effort between operators and riggers to ensure everything is executed flawlessly, together they must:

• Select the Correct Rigging Equipment: Based on the weight, size, and type of load, as well as the lifting conditions.
• Inspect Rigging Equipment: Before each lift, all rigging equipment should be inspected for wear, damage, or defects to prevent failure.
• Understand Load Dynamics: Knowledge of how to rig the load properly to maintain its stability and balance during lifting and moving.
• Follow Rigging Procedures: Adherence to established safety procedures and manufacturer guidelines ensures the load is securely fastened and can be safely lifted.

Checklist Inspection

Operators should use the checklist to inspect the equipment thoroughly every day and before operating or lifting jobs. It includes visual checking for cables, boom, hydraulic cracks, and any signs of hoist wear-off. If there are signs of damage, operators should order for taking them out of service and sending for repair.

Load Inspection

Identifying or estimating the load weight is also an essential factor confirming that it does not exceed the limit of the equipment to avoid overloading while lifting. And check if it is safe and properly secured for the lifting operation process.

Ensure Grounds are Clear from Workers

A safe worksite is everybody’s responsibility and should keep a secure perimeter around the crane and ensure that it is not on the crane radius. Standing directly on a crane suspended load can cause an accident at any time. All workers need to address all the precautionary measures in the daily safety meetings.

Lifting Plan

It will help to prevent unwanted accidents in your worksite and allows you to ensure that the ground is clear from any other workers near the lifting jobs.

Anticipate Swing

Each crane has its swing radius or the arc in which the counterweight and the boom travel. First, you need to identify the radius, close off the area or put a barricade equal to the radius to create a controlled or safe zone. So all the unauthorized persons will be notified through the signages and barricade and not be put in danger.

Consider Wind Speed

Sudden Harsh weather or strong winds adds risk during lifting operations, and there should be quick actions to prevent accidents. To manage this kind of risk, knowing the exact wind condition at all times is a must, especially when the lifting is ongoing. Based on the crane specification, project managers and operators can decide if the lifting can safely proceed or abort the task.

Do Not Use Cranes To Lift People

Crane safety regulations do not allow cranes for lifting employees. Although this action might look like an efficient way to transport some personnel to the area, it creates fall hazards and undue risk. There are much safer alternatives, such as scissors or boom lifts.

Conduct Major Inspection

An overall primary inspection for the crane at certain intervals is a strict requirement to identify any parts needing replacement or repair. It is advisable to conduct a significant assessment every 1- 12 months, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations on the equipment.

And when the inspection discovers that the crane needs repair or maintenance, it is essential to understand the risk to safety if the crane is still in service. The crane should be put on hold until maintenance and repair are complete.

Monitor the Lifting

Attentiveness improves safety; the qualified operator should monitor and never leave any suspended load unattended. During the lifting, they should keep an eye on the controls.

Ensure to Allocate Adequate Time for the Lifting Job

To avoid rushing the lifting task, ensure to allocate adequate time. Trying to speed the lifting process can lead to property damage and accidents. Crane operators will have enough time to thoroughly inspect the equipment, lifting process, and procedures if there is adequate time for the task to mitigate accidents in the worksite during lifting or crane operations.

Clear and Proper Communications

During lifting in a high-rise building where the crane operator cannot see the rigger, it needs precise and efficient communication in this lifting task; clear communication between the operator and the rigger is essential. Best Access Doors recommends strong communication on the job site to ensure that door panels installed by cranes are most effective.

Cranes are Essential Equipment in Construction Sites

Ubiquitous safety measures are needed. Taking for granted the crane operation or any heavy equipment present in the worksites could be more of a liability than a benefit. It can lead to severe accidents and property damage. Keep the above tips in mind to help you ensure safe crane operation on your worksite while maintaining a high level of productivity.

Author’s Bio

Chris Jackson is an experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. He is currently working with Best Access Doors, an access door supplier in the US and Canada, and has been working for the company for more than 12 years now. His area of expertise is on Negotiation, Roofers, Sales, Project Estimation, and Facility Management (FM)

The post Crane Safety – Important Tips for Your Construction Projects appeared first on S3DA DESIGN Structural and MEP Design.

Whether you’re working in residential or commercial sectors, we all know how much time, effort, and money it takes to build a new structure from the ground up. You may be used to operating in the suburbs or city, where much of the land is already developed. If so, you’ve likely worked on lots that are already cleared, graded, and ready for breaking ground. What if you’re dealing with an untouched stretch of land? Here’s how to get it ready for a construction project and build your construction site.

Surveying

Property lines aren’t always clearly marked — even in well-developed areas. The last thing anyone wants to do is start laying out a foundation only to find you’re a few inches — or a few feet — off your target and stretched into the next lot. Surveys are essential before you begin work on a new project. You need this, especially if you’re working in an area surrounded by other people’s property lines.

You may have a good idea of where the property lines are, but if you’re working in the United States or many other countries worldwide, having a survey completed before you break ground isn’t optional. In many places, you need this before you can even obtain the necessary permits for clearing and construction. It’s also a good idea to conduct a second survey after clearing the site. This ensures you that all your property lines are straight.

Soil Testing 

If the soil under your prospective construction site isn’t suitable, you may need to hunt for a new place to build. Keep a geotechnical engineer on staff or bring in a third-party testing company to determine if your chosen site will support the planned structure. There are various preconstruction soil tests, ranging from moisture content — which determines how much ambient moisture is in the soil — to specific gravity, dry density, and compaction.

Ideally, you will build on a site where the soil doesn’t get waterlogged or shift quickly. If you’re working in a flood plain, you’ll want earth that drains easily but isn’t likely to move dramatically when exposed to water. There are different classes of soil, which your engineer will identify to make it easier to determine where to build.

Geotechnical Site Investigation

Once the soil testing is complete, you can move on to a geotechnical site investigation. This needs the information you collected during soil testing to the next level. Collecting data assists you in designing the structure’s foundation. In addition to a geotechnical engineer, you will also need the services of a groundwater expert.

These reports usually appear in three phases. First, the property owner works with the architect to create the project definition. Then, the geotechnical engineer carries out the initial reviews and soil testing. Finally, the geotechnical engineer and groundwater expert can conduct a preliminary site visit to help design the building foundations.

Clearing

With a few rare exceptions, preparing a new construction site work will start with clearing the property of anything that calls it home. That means tearing down old buildings and removing trees and plant life. You will need heavy equipment designed for cutting down trees, removing stumps, and dragging often extensive root systems out of the ground.

That last step is crucial. Leaving roots in the ground after removing the trees can lead to foundation problems in the future. The dead root systems will rot, leaving cavities in the soil below the foundation, allowing it to settle and eventually crack.

You may find that you only need to remove the trees and brush necessary for home construction for residential properties. The reason is that people prefer to have some trees on their lot. Leaving the existing ones is more cost-effective than replanting when you finish building.

Be mindful of your area and any endangered or threatened plant and animal species that might call your targeted lot home. These could throw a wrench in your plans and delay or even cancel a clearing, causing you to have to search for new ground to complete the project.

Leveling and Grading

The ground might look flat to the naked eye, but it may not be level enough to build on. Break out the surveying equipment again, and bring out your grader. This can be a tedious step. You’ll need to move back and forth with the grader, then wait for someone to check the grade before continuing. An automatic level can remove some of the tedium, allowing you to monitor the grade automatically without the need for any additional crew members.

Don’t rush through this step. It’s easy to make a mistake that requires filling in and packing before you can continue with the leveling and grading. Like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady is what you need to win this race.

Infrastructure Installation

Once you have dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s, it’s time to start breaking ground.  However, don’t bring in the concrete trucks just yet. Infrastructure installation comes next, and that will be the last step before you begin pouring the foundation and moving upward.

The exact details of this step will depend on the location and requirements of the project. You may need to install sewer lines or a septic tank and drain field. Electricity and water will often run underground as well. In areas with a shallow water table, digging too deeply is impossible without every hole and trench filling up. In such cases,  you may need to run them overhead instead.

Get the infrastructure in place, and your site is finally ready for construction. It seems like an extensive process. However, you can complete these steps in one to two months with a good team.

Ready to Build Your Construction Site

While things would be a lot easier if we could snap our fingers and make new houses pop up without all the extra effort, the world doesn’t work that way. It takes a lot of work to turn a stretch of untouched land into a safe site ready for construction, but once you make it through those steps, the rest of the project should run smoothly.

Author’s Bio
Rose Morrison is a freelance writer working on the construction, home improvement, and contract topics. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated.com, a site dedicated to the latest trends in the housing industry. She is passionate about innovative technologies that make the home industry sustainable and efficient. Checking out Renovated.com to see more of her work.

The post Construction Site – How to Prepare them for Work appeared first on S3DA DESIGN Structural and MEP Design.