Unfortunately, construction projects often can’t wait until the summer to be completed. This means that construction workers must deal with winter weather conditions in order to complete these projects. During these times, it’s imperative that your crew is prepared for working outdoors. A study from 2015 found that nearly 4,836 workers were killed while working. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid worker injuries and deaths. With that in mind, here are six helpful ways to ensure your crew is ready for the winter.
- Hold Safety Briefings Before Work Begins
Your crew will likely be composed of workers who are new and those with experience. A recent study from the Institute for Work and Health in Canada found that employees are three times as likely to get injured than other workers. Therefore, it’s wise to hold safety meetings for all of your workers before the day begins. In turn, it helps to reiterate important safety points that workers should always keep in mind. - Ensure Workers Remain Visible at All Times
During the winter, snow and freezing rain often make it hard for others to see clearly. This is important to think about while imagining your crew working on roadways. Therefore, it’s wise to make sure each worker is fitted with high visibility workwear. For instance, high visibility sweatshirts make it easy for workers to remain both visible and warm. - Keep a Close Eye on the Weather
Many workers wake up and immediately get ready for their day. Considering that, you can’t assume that every single member of your crew is checking the morning’s weather forecast. With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure that you’re monitoring weekly weather forecasts. This is vital if you and your crew are working during the winter. In turn, you’ll be able to modify your project’s schedule which ensures everyone avoids working in dangerous conditions. - Treat Working Areas Before the Day Begins
It’s wise to treat a construction site with ample care, especially during the winter. Statistics show that, while an average person walks about 10,000 steps daily, construction workers take over 30,000 steps per day. Considering that, treating your construction with salt and sand help to give each worker the traction they need. - Winterize All Working Vehicles
You’ve read a lot about preparing your crew for the winter. With that in mind, it’s also wise to check on the condition of the vehicles your crew uses. Make sure that each vehicle has received a recent maintenance inspection. In addition, it’s wise to add special winter accessories to these vehicles. - Know When to Give Workers Extra Breaks
While it’s important to have high visibility sweatshirts and other protective items, it’s possible for the weather to become too severe. When this happens, it’s wise to implement more frequent breaks that preferably take place in heated areas. During extremely cold temperatures, it’s easier for workers to experience hypothermia and frostbite. This can turn your worksite into a potentially dangerous situation for workers.
In conclusion, it’s vital that your workers remain safe at all times. Winter weather tends to bring additional hazards to most construction sites. You can help keep your workers prepared for winter weather by partnering with a safety uniform supplier. Having items including high visibility sweatshirts, jackets, and pants keep workers safe and highly visible.