Ohio is already on the verge of spring — but that can mean some rather rocky weather that ranges from warm and sunny one day and wet and windy the day after. Downpours are common.
In other words, spring weather can make construction work interesting — if not outright treacherous. Since a lot of construction projects ramp up in the spring, we thought it’s a good time to remind construction workers of some safety tips when the rain hits:
- Be extremely conscious of the risk of a slip-and-fall accident in wet weather. The increased awareness alone can make you more cautious, particularly in high areas.
- Wear your personal protective gear at all times, especially when working on elevated areas. Slip-resistant boots are a necessity at all times during the rainy part of the year.
- Don’t forget about mud. The soft ground at a construction site and the rain can make for a whole new set of slipping hazards. Muddy boots can cause you to fall when climbing ladders or into the cabs of large equipment — so take a moment and wipe the mud away before you start.
- If you operate any large equipment — from a forklift to a crane — you need to be extra conscious of wet ground and sloped areas. You can easily lose traction on the mud and slide down a hill. Even a small slope can cause top-heavy equipment to overturn.
- Trench collapses are a real possibility during the wet weather — and they’re often deadly to workers. Don’t get into a trench if the weather is too wet to keep the sides intact or the appropriate supports aren’t in place. Inspect every trench daily before you enter.
Construction accidents can leave you and your family without adequate means of support. If you’re injured and out of work or a loved one was killed in a construction accident, a lawsuit may be necessary to recover what you are owed and help your family move forward. Our office has been helping injured workers for decades.