Winter season brings icy and snowy conditions with it that can be highly dangerous, especially for construction businesses. It’s essential to pay special attention during winter months to ensure the safety of workers by identifying workplace hazards and taking appropriate precautions.
Here’s a basic guide for preventing winter-related workplace accidents for construction businesses:
Look out for winter-related injuries and illnesses
It’s highly important to spread awareness about safety hazards in winter. Workers and supervisors should be able to identify the symptoms and signs of cold-related injuries. This will prevent injuries or illnesses from intensifying, preventing them from having health consequences or leading to accidents.
For example, if a person is shivering and slurring their speech while talking, they might be experiencing hypothermia; this requires immediate medical attention. An average of 1,301 people die every year due to hypothermia in the US, and this number would have been lower if they had received emergency help.
Provide proper clothing and gear
Workers and supervisors should be provided with clothing and gear that’s suitable for the winter season. This will help them combat cold conditions and perform their job safely and more efficiently. Ideally, workers should wear layers, including a moisture-wicking, insulating base layer, and a waterproof outer layer.
Headgear is necessary to ensure head safety and is compulsory for every worker. Moreover, other accessories such as footwear and gloves should also be given consideration; waterproof boots with good traction and gloves with grip handle should be provided to ensure safety.
Safety equipment is necessary!
Workers are required to operate heavy machinery at the construction site, which most commonly involves cranes. Operating a crane is an extremely difficult task, and it becomes an even more complex task during winters. Hence, investing in crane safety equipment is vital to prevent accidents and injuries.
Some common crane safety equipment includes ATB warning systems that can reduce risks of accidents by alerting and warning of a two-blocking condition—a dangerous condition where the hook block is raised until it contacts the boom tip. Moreover, using camera systems can help crane operators to see blind spots and provide better visibility during snowy conditions.
Similarly, wireless wind speed indicators can help to check the wind speed at the construction site to ensure that weather conditions are safe to continue the construction work.
Crane Warning Systems Atlanta has been in the crane safety industry for nearly two decades as a distributor for RaycoWylie crane safety equipment.
From LMI &RCI indicators to crane A2B systems, we have an extensive range of cost-effective, user-friendly, and top-quality crane indicator to ensure safety when operating cranes in winter conditions.
Protect your people and equipment and comply with OSHA regulations by using our crane indicators. To find out more, give us a call at 1-8