Increasing Safety Measures for Spring and Summer Construction
The spring and summer seasons bring relief from freezing winter conditions but also come with unique construction safety concerns. The industry already has many everyday hazards that site managers need to account for. However, when temperatures heat up, it’s time to increase safety measures further. You can prepare your site and team for spring and summer construction by focusing on a few key areas.
cover image © pexels
Don’t Ignore Temperatures and Humidity
The most important on-site safety measure in the spring and summer is keeping an eye on temperature and humidity. Allowing work to continue when it’s too hot will lead to reduced productivity and a greater risk of injury or illness. High humidity can exacerbate feelings of heat exhaustion even if temperatures are not alarming.
A workday might start cool and comfortable enough for crews to come to the site. Someone on your team should monitor temperatures throughout the day, though. Set a heat threshold depending on humidity and your site’s specific circumstances. Breaks should increase to prevent heat sickness once temperatures hit this mark.
It is also worth considering alternate work schedules during warm months. Mornings and evenings tend to be noticeably cooler than afternoons. Your team will work much more safely and comfortably if shifts are moved to these times. This ensures no one has to work during the afternoon, when temperatures are most dangerous.
Prepare Your Site for the Season
Take steps to make your job sites safer for workers during warm months. These additional safety measures include gear and PPE adjustments, as well as physical elements. For example, industry experts widely recommend that construction workers stick to light-colored, breathable clothing and PPE in the spring and summer. Full- and wide-brim hard hats offer more shade than standard versions.
The physical job site will also benefit from designated cool-down areas and water coolers. Quality shade in a breezy area will be extremely helpful for your team. Make sure to have a few different spots to prevent crowds from forming. Posting reminders to drink plenty of water and marking water coolers around your site will help maintain heat-healthy behaviors, as well.
It is also important to make sure your site has a way of updating workers on heat conditions, especially in emergencies. Updated hazard communication equipment is one of the “scary 13” things OSHA inspectors check for on-site visits. Regular OSHA inspections are more likely in hot summer months when construction site hazards tend to be higher than usual.
Additionally, consider how heat might affect other safety measures. Roads may need specialized safety markings to account for visibility through sunglasses or clarity against heat haze. This way, if a worker is trying to get to a cool-down zone while experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion, they will still be able to see it clearly.
Education and Evaluation Are Key
Most seasoned construction industry members know that adequate training can make a world of difference when it comes to safety. Heat safety is no exception. Before spring and summer get into full swing, prepare your team by conducting a thorough seasonal safety course. The more aware team members are of the symptoms of heat illnesses, the less likely they will be to neglect early warning signs.
In addition to training, holding regular safety meetings is one of the best steps you can take to improve your site. This can be a great way to check in with your team throughout the season and enhance safety measures as needed. For example, multiple team members might mention a need for more cool-down spaces. Regular gatherings are a great time to get feedback on possible locations for a new location.
Similarly, evaluations should shift in warmer months to include heat protection and safety behaviors. Sunblock, warm-weather PPE and adequate water breaks should be addressed in the spring and summer. Individual workers are just as much responsible for their own heat safety as managers and team leaders are, so it is important to make sure everyone is staying on the right track.
Responsive Safety All Year
Spring and summer may present additional safety challenges for your team, but they are also a great opportunity to improve. Every season comes with its own unique safety considerations, so flexibility strategies in the summer can also translate into safer winter months.
In addition to safety, you can also use the warmer part of the year as a chance to try out new equipment and tech for your team. For example, solar panels can be a great power source on construction sites, and summer is the optimal time to make the most of them.
Use this season to start fresh on safety and add new improvements to your job sites.
Author bio: Jane is an environmental writer who covers topics in sustainable construction and green building materials and the editor-in-chief of Environment.co.
cover image © pexels
