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When it comes to keeping your construction sites safe, our team has many practices in place for year-round safety. From cold weather and ice storms to high winds and more, our team is working to make sure they’re staying safe on your construction sites. Safe work practices not only help with our employees’ health but also keep your projects running smoothly and on time. We did a roundup of some great toolbox talks to help your team with their next weather event. 

High Wind:
High wind is one component of weather that can pose many hazards for workers. It can make hauling and trucking dangerous, move materials and equipment throughout work sites, and can even make heavy equipment operation more difficult. Our goal is to keep employees protected and keep our sites hazard-free. We can eliminate the hazards by enforcing stop work if you sense a hazard due to wind conditions.

•    Jobs involving aerial lifts, cranes, and sheathing materials must be properly evaluated with wind conditions. 
•    Different or additional PPE may be required (goggles vs. safety glasses against flying dust and debris).
•    Park heavy equipment and light-duty vehicles so that the wind is not blowing directly against the side used to enter/exit the vehicle. 
•    Do not react or reach for dropping objects (i.e. losing a hardhat in the wind). This can result in slips, falls, and strain/sprains. 
•    All hoarding must be designed/engineered to sustain loads to which it is likely to be subjected, such as wind, snow loads, and falling debris. 
•    Fencing must be set back an appropriate distance from the edge of an excavation - which varies depending on site conditions. 
•    Where a scaffold is enclosed by a tarp or other cover, induced loads (i.e. wind) must be considered. Consult with the manufacturer's instructions for the scaffold or seek the direction of a professional engineer.
 

Snow: 
Ice and snow can mess with timelines, equipment, employees getting to job sites, and can cause many more problems. One way to prevent issues is to remove ice and snow from worksites, equipment, and walkways. 

•    Use sand, salt, or other de-icing material to prevent slips and falls. 
•    Watch your footing. 
•    Steel beams, decks, and platforms may be clear in sunny areas but icy in the shade. The same goes for plywood decks. 
•    Simply turning icy planks over may not be enough because ice often forms on the underside. Remove icicles, especially when the temperature starts to warm up. If icicles can’t be removed, rope off the area below them and put up warning signs. 
•    Clear frost and snow completely from all windows, lights, and mirrors on vehicles and heavy equipment. 
•    When possible, keep your arms free to cushion a fall. 
•    Wear gloves, as well as head coverings that accommodate a hard hat. If you get hot while working, open your jacket but keep your hat and gloves on.

Trucking Tips:
From icy road conditions and chain requirements to construction zones and more, there are many hazards on the road for heavy haul drivers to be aware of. Our goal is to keep our trucking division safe and keep your projects running smoothly. Check out these tips for your next toolbox talk. 
•    Make sure your lights are on and working and watch for brake lights on the vehicles ahead of you.
•    Clean the ice and snow off mirrors, windows, lights, and reflective tape.
•    Be extra cautious on entrance and exit ramps. A sharp turn on a slippery road means double trouble. Be aware of bridges. Their surfaces freeze first and can be more slippery than the roadway itself.
•    Start braking early for stop signs and red lights. Intersections can be icier than the roads leading to them.
•    Keep in mind the importance of a good following distance.
•    Don’t drive in the ruts of other vehicles. Their spinning wheels have probably packed the snow into ice.
•    Accelerate/decelerate carefully and gradually. Remember that the tractor must pull the trailer. If the pavement is slick, the conditions are ripe for a jackknife.
•    Turn the engine brake off when on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads, when approaching bridges, on-ramps, or exit ramps.

Get full resources for your next toolbox talks below.
Winter safety
High wind safety
Winter truck driving safety