Now that spring is in full bloom, construction projects and sites are becoming busier than ever. As a reminder that with the warmer weather, these sites can also be faced with a different set of safety challenges. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Safety Council offer a number of tips to help keep you on top of workplace safety, especially on construction sites.
The Prewitt Group wants to help you and your team prepare for any unexpected challenges and help you mitigate your risks onsite by offering a few reminders regarding workplace safety, especially during the spring months:
- Make Sure Everyone Is Prepared: During the spring, outside temperatures can fluctuate between cold in the mornings to warmer or even hot in the afternoons. You will want to encourage your workers to have the proper attire for transitioning with the rise or fall in temperatures. Rain and mud are also more likely to be a problem in the spring, so you will want to make sure everyone is prepared for any sudden landscape changes.
- Make Sure You Have a Plan for Severe Weather: The weather can change on a dime during the springtime. It may be sunny one minute and stormy the next. It is important to maximize the safety and welfare of your workers by having a severe weather evacuation plan for outdoor job sites that everyone is aware of and can put into motion relatively quickly. Workers should be encouraged to evacuate a site immediately if thunder and lightning occur.
- Inspect Onsite Equipment: As mentioned before, rain and mud can be more prevalent in the spring. As such, we encourage routine inspection of equipment to clean off any mud that may have accumulated on surfaces or heavy equipment entry points to avoid slips and falls.
- Avoid Slips and Falls: Standing water, especially on a construction site, increases the chances of workers slipping and falling. Make sure that standing water is eliminated in areas that may be prone to creating dangerous situations.
- Proper PPE: Make sure workers are properly equipped with the appropriate PPE and are prepared for being outdoors. Safety goggles are a must in the springtime because the wind can pick up and debris can start flying. In addition, workers’ boots must have good traction for slippery areas.
- Proper Training: Ensure that your workers are properly trained to work in outdoor conditions by keeping them trained and informed of OSHA’s construction site safety guidelines.
For 49 years, we have helped businesses keep their associates safe. Ensure that you have the appropriate commercial coverage and workers compensation by scheduling a review of your policies with one of our risk consultants.