Tag Archives: construction sites

General Safety Issues

HOW TO SECURE YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITE AGAINST WINTER CONDITIONS (GUEST POST)

Winter can bring some challenges for construction contractors throughout the country. Even in warmer climates like Florida, it is important to know when you need to protect your site and equipment from freezing temperatures and winter conditions. From securing an empty worksite to keeping machinery in working condition, here are a few ways to make sure that your construction site is ready for late winter. 

Don’t Overwork Your Engines

Heavy equipment and machinery can require some extra attention to keep them running in premium condition. First, you should make sure to follow all manufacturers’ guidelines regarding use and lubrication, but here are a few easy steps to make sure you keep your engines running smoothly. 

  • Always use a winter fuel blend, which will help run at lower pressures and actually be a little cheaper.
  • Allow your machines to warm up before using them to full effect. Idling the engine is not that effective at warming the engine, so just operate the machine at low speed until everything is running smoothly.
  • Don’t allow diesel engines to idle for long periods. Idling in the cold lets water build up in the exhaust that can cause problems later.
  • Make sure to fill your gas tanks at the end of the day to avoid condensation and rust in your fuel tanks.

Control Winter Erosion

Winter erosion and runoff is one of the biggest problems facing most construction sites. Between snow melt and winter rain storms, it can be difficult to control sediment and dust throughout winter and into early spring. Depending on your location, there are a number of tactics you should employ to make sure that your site does not leak pollutants or sediment into the neighborhood. 

  • Precipitation is the most important factor in preparing your site. Understand how much rain or snow you can expect and work direct any snowmelt into a manageable area.
  • Erosion control blankets should be placed over dirt piles to prevent precipitation from washing them away.
  • Know your soil. Clay and organic soils are resistant to erosion, while silt and sugar sand will erode very quickly.
  • Dirt roads are very susceptible to runoff, but there are a number of ways to mitigate winter precipitation. Hydrogels like Soil2O absorb and trap up to 400 times their weight in water, which can help slow or arrest erosion and sediment runoff.
  • Adding woodwaste mulch and vegetation to the borders of your site can increase soil integrity and help trap any sediment in runoff water, adding a natural filter to any water that leaves your site.

It’s important to remember that the start of spring does not mean that you can relax, even if you have had a mild winter. Spring thaws produce a lot of water from melting snow and thawed ground. Make sure to maintain all drainage routes and the keep your erosion control methods in place throughout early spring. 

Securing Your Site

Keeping your site safe is important throughout the year, but winter conditions can make construction sites even more hazardous. Your site should always be secured with safety fences, but in winter unstable ground conditions can affect workers and visitors to the site. Make sure to have clearly marked, reinforced pathways for work and stabilize all equipment and heavy machinery prior to beginning work. 

Author Bio:
Mike Poslaiko is the Director of Marketing for GelTech Solutions which focuses on bringing environmentally friendly solutions to homeowners and industries alike.

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

BACKOVER ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES (GUEST POST)

A very real danger that exists on a construction site is one that is often overlooked. Everyone knows that falling from great heights or injuries from machinery are common with this type of work. However, many may not know that backover accidents also cause numerous deaths each year on construction sites.

A backover incident often occurs when a vehicle backs over a worker that is walking, standing or kneeling behind the vehicle. A reported 70 workers died from backover accidents in the year 2010 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent these horrible accidents.

How do backover accidents occur?

To prevent these incidents, it is important to understand how they occur in the first place. Backover accidents usually happen due to several jobsite factors. For example, the noise from machinery can be so loud those nearby do not hear the backup alarm on a vehicle. Sometimes, accidents occur when workers riding along the outside of a vehicle fall off and into the path of the tires. Drivers of these vehicles also deal with a blind spot, and if workers stay in this blind spot too long, a backover accident can occur. Drivers often have spotters that are there to assist them while backing up a large vehicle. Occasionally, the spotter helping a driver will not see another vehicle and be backed over. In some cases, the reason why a worker was in the path of a vehicle is unknown.

How do construction sites prevent backover incidents?

One way of preventing backover accidents is cameras that work in conjunction with in-vehicle monitors. This allows drivers a clear view of what is behind their vehicles. There are also sonar and radar devices that alert drivers when objects or people are behind them. Better-planned sites will also cut down on these occurrences. For example, if a traffic control plan is implemented, then this will reduce the need for drivers to back up. Perhaps the best resource in preventing this terrible accident from happening is proper training. Most employees are not aware of the blind spot location on a typical work vehicle. For this reason, they will have no idea they are standing in a danger zone. To remedy this problem, proper training for workers is crucial. If they know where the blind spot is on a vehicle, they will be less likely to become part of this accident statistic.  Also, wearing high-visibility vests will help them be seen.

Construction sites are dangerous for numerous reasons. Backover accidents are just one way that workers are injured or killed while trying to do their job. It is important to make workers aware of backover dangers to assure a safe construction site.

Author Bio: Eric Blair writes about construction site and workplace safety equipment from http://www.fallprotectionusa.com/ that prevents unpleasant accidents.