You don’t need us to tell you that careers in the construction industry aren’t the safest jobs out there. There are tons of safety hazards at each job site. Construction debris removal in Kansas City also needs to be done year-round to ensure the building process stays on schedule. Unfortunately, as the temperatures plummet, the chances of accidents occurring on the job tend to skyrocket. Adhere to the following safety advice, and you’re more likely to have a safer job site this winter:
- Watch the forecast: Before you head out for the day, be sure to turn on the morning news or log onto the internet to check the upcoming weather. At the very least, checking the forecast will let you know that you should dress a bit warmer than you normally would. Employers should be sure to watch for blizzards or other storms and reschedule the day’s plans if the weather is dangerous.
- Limit exposure: Even though you dress in layers, wear thick gloves and have insulated boots, your body isn’t built to stay in cold conditions for too long. Prolonged exposure to the cold elements can lead to serious health problems and even frostbite. Break outdoor work down into smaller segments to ensure you never run into complications from exposure.
- Provide a warm break area: Going along with the point above, it’s crucial that you set up a warm break area on the construction site. This area can be a heated trailer or simply just a covered area with heat lamps. Anything to provide a little reprieve from the winter winds will do.
- Require proper gear: Construction debris removal in Kansas City requires the right safety gear all year long, but the stakes are raised in the winter. Construction activities that are dangerous in the warmer months become even riskier when the temperatures start to drop. Some examples of winter safety gear include insulated boots, heavy coats, thick gloves and wool hats. Wearing the right clothes for the job helps prevent accidents and ensures nobody comes down with a nasty case of frostbite or hypothermia.
- Discourage coffee: While providing warm beverages in your heated break area is a great idea, serving coffee is a mistake. Caffeine increases your heart rate and can give you a false sense of feeling warm. It goes without saying that a false sense of warmth in the middle of winter can lead to big problems. Instead of giving workers coffee, keep everyone hydrated by having plenty of water bottles at the job site.
- Education is key: As we see time and time again, proper education is crucial if you want to ensure workplace safety. Teach your employees the signs of frostbite and hypothermia, and what needs to be done if any of the symptoms arise. Workers also need to know what to do in all types of weather-related emergencies. Just a few hours of safety training can be the difference between life and death!
The next time you need construction debris removal in Kansas City, be sure to give Midland Wrecking Inc. a call. We have years of experience, and you can trust that all of our employees are committed to staying safe while they’re on the job.