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The Danger of Construction Work During Bad Weather
Construction workers are susceptible to many health and safety risks. Apart from common hazards like falling equipment, electrocution, chemical injuries, and fire and explosions, bad weather also plays a significant role in a construction worker’s overall safety.
According to consolidatedriggingandlifting.com, bad weather contributes to falling, which is one of the top causes of a construction worker’s injury. Bad weather clearly increases the chance of accidents in a construction site, especially when the site cannot adapt to extreme weather conditions.
Here are some of the weather situations that pose a great danger to construction sites and workers.
Heavy Rain
Intense rainfall is one of the most common weather conditions that delay construction projects. The presence of torrential rain reduces a worker’s visibility, which cause accidents like sliding and falling. Rain also turns the ground into mud that get onto tires and undercarriages of vehicles. This interferes with work and adds danger to construction drivers and crane operators.
Strong Winds
During strong winds, people working at high levels have higher exposure to danger. Extreme gusts can blow construction workers away, especially when harnesses and side protection, which secure them from falling, are insufficient. Wind also whips dust, which could irritate eyes and aggravate asthma. Apart from this, tiles and debris blown by strong winds can terribly hurt site workers.
Lightning
Construction sites are abundant in metal, which acts as conductors for lightning. This causes electrocution, fires, and explosions that could permanently damage a worker’s health and function. Since cranes and scaffolding are positioned at high levels, both materials easily attract lightning.
Temperature
Extreme hot and cold temperatures contribute to a site worker’s safety. Snow freezes windscreens and creates slip hazards from ice, while hot temperatures make workers suffer from dehydration and heat stroke. The sun’s glare can also cause overheating and fire risks to flammable materials onsite. Sometimes, extreme temperatures destroy machinery, which contributes to the hazards.
Bad weather creates delays and injuries to construction workers. However, proper training, management, and reliable weather forecasts can help avoid unfortunate events like this. No matter how big a project is, building owners and construction managers should always put their worker’s safety first.