RAIN CAN RUIN A JOB
Rain may be good for farmers, but it can turn the jobsite into a giant mud pie. Rain can ruin materials and supplies and generally make things downright messy. Steel gets slippery, equipment gets stuck, and workers get wet. By covering equipment, materials, tools, supplies, and people, rain does not have a chance to do as much damage as it could. One way to eliminate slipping hazards is to sweep water out of low areas used as passageways on worksites.
WATCH OUT FOR THE WIND WHILE YOU WORK
Don’t let everyday winds and unexpected gusts catch you off guard. Wind can pick up anything it can and carry it away. Think of how many times you carry materials such as sheets of sheetrock, plywood, or other objects that have the potential to fly away with little wind.
Here are some safety tips for dealing with windy days:
• When it’s windy, securely tie down or weigh down supplies and materials. Some gusts can pick up a 4 x 8 ft. sheet of sheetrock from the top of a high-rise building and carry it several blocks.
• Never underestimate what the wind can throw around.
• When working on tall or open buildings, stay away from leading edges, floor openings, and simi-lar drop-offs where the wind could blow you over.
WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES
When lightning is around, it’s safer to take shelter earlier rather than later. Very often an electrical storm occurs without rain, or a lightning storm precedes the rain. If you’re working on a scaffold outside of a building, on top of steel framework, or around other projecting equipment or buildings, the safest thing to do is to seek shelter.
You’ll be reasonably safe from lightning inside a structure, particularly when it is equipped with lightning rods. You’ll also be fairly safe in an automobile or truck. But never take shelter under an isolated tree or where you are in contact with a tractor, crane, or other equipment. If you get caught out in the open, stay as low as you can.
It is much safer to be down in a ditch than on top of the ground.
TRAVEL
What is your travel route to the job?
Is this route passable without water hazards or other challenges?
Be very careful when transporting tools and equipment to the project. DO NOT attempt to transport anything to the project without a clear understanding of where you are going. DO NOT hesitate to turn around!
Be sure you have adequate fuel for the journey. There have been some lines to get gas, so be pre-pared in advance.
AT THE JOBSITE
- Perform a jobsite safety evaluation.
- Review jobsite access and exits for potential collapse hazards.
- Inspect all equipment before use, especially if it has been exposed to water.
- Be aware of hazards from exposed nails or broken materials, such as glass or wood.
- Watch for animals that might have entered the construction site during the flood.
- Do not touch any electrical locations that might be underwater.
- Report all electrical hazards to your supervisor and ask how to proceed.
- Check ground conditions before operating any scissor or boom lifts. Areas exposed to extreme water can be subject to sinkholes or collapse.
- Make sure all generators are in a well-ventilated area if we use them.
- Check your first aid kits and make sure they are complete in case they are needed.
- Don’t walk into any space with deep standing water.
- Use proper gloves when handling wet material or trash.
- Review important contact phone numbers in case incidents need to be reported or someone must be contacted for an emergency.
- Report any minor injury so we can take proper action if needed.
- Consult with your supervisor if you need PPE before work begins so it can be issued accord-ingly.
STAY IN COMMUNICATION
We might not have been able to discuss all of the safety precautions that you could encounter at your jobsite, but we ask you to stay in contact with your coworkers and supervisor so we can ad-dress any situation that arises during work hours. If you have an emergency at home and need to leave early or take days off, please inform your supervisor or anyone at MAREK.