From residential home improvement projects to commercial-scale jobs, summer is one of the most active periods of the year for the construction industry. During the warmer months, major infrastructure renovations – such as roofing or siding repairs – can be intensive but commonplace, especially as owners and building administrators hurry to have work completed before kickstarting their own vacations.
The construction boom can drive up the need for high-quality hardware, especially for fasteners such as bolts, nails, screws, anchors and washers. Stocking up on this essential hardware can make a difference on the job site and cut back on delays, which can sometimes cause a project to stretch out for several weeks on end.
But this is only one facet of how managers can brace for the challenges of summer, because one of the biggest obstacles to the job site, and to workers themselves, is the threat of heat stress and other health hazards.
OSHA kickstarts summer campaign
Eliminating potential hazards to construction safety provides better security to workers and helps to ensure the successful completion of a project. With this critical element in mind, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently launched the "Construction Incident Prevention Initiative," which is based in West Virginia and designed to prevent curb construction fatalities – specifically during the summer months.
"Construction is a high-hazard industry, and when employers do not employ an effective safety and health program, workers are left vulnerable to serious injury and possible death," said MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA's regional administrator in Philadelphia.
According to Garrahan, by increasing the number of compliance officers on the ground and regularly investigating potential risks – scaffolds, trenches and potential fall hazards being critical among them – OSHA aims to eliminate fatalities in construction zones.
Additionally, the initiative has targeted other harmful source of possible worker injury, like lead, silica and hexavalent chromium.
Staying safe in the heat
In areas that are sensitive to high temperatures, including warehouses, industrial plants and manufacturing facilities, scorching hot conditions can endanger workers, which in turn negatively impact productivity and employee retention.
For these and other reasons, ensuring that workers avoid heat exhaustion and gain the resources they need to stay cool throughout the day is crucial during the summer months. While the best way to eliminate heat-related illnesses is to find ways of cooling a job-site, that may not always be an easy endeavor, but below are a few things to keep in mind:
Invest in an evaporator cooler. Finding cost-effective methods for keeping a work area cool can be difficult, especially when air-conditioning isn't an option. Oscillating fans can be a quick fix, but they don't actually cool air – they just circulate dry, stagnate air already in the space. Instead, consider an evaporator cooler, which can drive down room temperatures and have portable options, making them easy to transport from different job sites.
Encourage workers to hydrate and stay in the shade. This is simple yet the most effective way to cut back on heat stress. By providing workers with ample water and encouraging them to hydrate throughout the day, it's possible to eliminate the occurrence of heat stroke. Other precautions, like staying in the shade and applying sunblock, are also good options.
Monitor staff for signs of heat-related illnesses. Do you know the signs of heat stroke, and more importantly, does your staff? Those impacted by stress due to the warm weather may experience thirst, nausea, extreme dizziness, weakness or confusion. These individuals may be hot, or even burning up, but not produce any sweat, which is a big warning sign that something is amiss. By being able to recognize the signs of heat stroke, you can better serve workers and keep them in good health.