Each season has different impacts on how construction gets done. If a construction company isn’t well-prepared for the coming seasons, there’s a high probability of something going wrong around the jobsite.
Preserving the safety of any construction site is a must. Every worker’s life and safety should be crucial. Since we’re already nearing the winter season, construction companies should change their strategies and create new ways to prepare themselves for the upcoming challenges. Here are several tips to give contractors plenty of ideas on how to get past the complicated winter construction season.
Expect Icy Conditions
Once the winter season comes into play, frost can cover several areas of the site. Meaning, most walked on surfaces will be slippery, and this would mean horrible consequences for workers and other construction personnel walking on the site. Every icy surface will be slippery unless construction workers have specially designed shoes that can hold the wearer firmly on the cold surface.
Aside from the icy surface, there will be metal surfaces that ice can also affect. Touching these metal surfaces without any protection can cause severe burns to the skin. It is not an injury that construction workers should take lightly because a construction worker’s hands are the most crucial assets they have. Having severely burnt hands because of the icy surfaces can significantly reduce work productivity, which should not happen when the construction has a scheduled deadline.
Moreover, contractors should conduct a daily meeting before a construction project. Holding a training session can help contractors prepare workers for any icy condition they should expect during the winter.
Preparing Important Gear and Equipment
Before workers do their job around the construction site, they need to have all of the essential equipment and gear prepared already. There are many clothing and equipment especially made for the winter season, which is why construction companies need to take advantage of them every time they get the chance.
Examples of these are clothes that have thermal insulation. It is needed to protect the entire body of the wearer from the cold. Even sweat can freeze in an instant if exposed to the cold, so having clothes with thermal insulation is a must. Workers must cover all parts of the body when working under the cold to prevent discomfort, such as hypothermia. If workers still end up getting cold, it’s best to wear multiple layers of clothing. However, wearing various layers can decrease mobility, so wearing two coats of thermally insulated clothing should be enough.
Providing a Warm Break Area
After every shift, there needs to be a place where workers and other construction personnel can rest easy without feeling cold. Preparing hot food and drinks for everyone is a must to ensure they regulate their body temperatures at all times. Productivity among the workers can also decrease without a comfortable and warm place for them to rest during the winter.
These three tips are what construction companies should do when the winter season arrives. There are still various ways they can implement to improve their winter preparation method for the construction project. With a responsible and reliable contractor leading the project, wholeheartedly implementing these tips will become possible. It would mean better management for the entire construction process and a smoother way to complete the construction on or before the agreed schedule of completion.
