3 Ways to Improve Job Site Safety

When it comes to the health and safety of construction workers, things like tips for drinking more water, and how to keep cool on a hot day come in handy, but for experienced professionals, it also means having the right gear. 

Job sites come in many forms, and each comes with its own challenges for worker safety. If they’re indoors the temperature and ventilation needs to be regulated, and whether that means making it warmer or colder will obviously require different equipment. 

So whether your workers are indoors, outdoors, have unique power requirements, or if they’re using safety harnesses on elevated work platforms, here are some tips for gear to help with job site safety.

Safety in the Space: Heating, Ventilation, and AC

When studs are bare, the air flows through construction sites nicely. But when walls go up, they start closing in fast. In these types of environments your workers are likely geared up and wearing all sorts of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and if it’s in a warm climate in the summer, you’ll need some methods to beat the heat. 

AC at a job site

Of all the human inventions that are designed to cool us down there is no greater marvel than AC. If it’s available to teams and can be used effectively on jobs sites then there is no substitute. However, since walls aren’t always up, and roofs aren’t always built, AC doesn’t always make sense. In those cases, industrial fans are a great method to beat the heat. 

Heating a job site

During winter or cold climate jobs, however, heat may be desired. Heat may also be desired if drying is necessary for paint or sheetrock. The most common heaters on job sites are propane heaters. But large amounts of propane aren’t always available, and in this case, an electric heater may be a better choice. They tend to have more power too and are better for bigger jobs. And for the biggest jobs, a heat pump with a detachable kit of supply ducts works wonders. 

This type of system is large and expensive, but can also be used for AC, and may be necessary to keep workers safe. And when it comes to safety while heating and cooling a job site, nothing is more important than ventilation.

Ventilation of a job site

The leading authority on ventilation requirements for job site safety is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA provides guidance on a number of fronts, and not only trains job site managers in general industry, maritime, and construction standards, but they also teach them how to spot hazards.

General ventilation is the most common and simply focuses on moving fresh air from the outside to the job site. Local ventilation systems are a bit more complicated as they typically remove hazardous air, or limit hazardous air.

Safety in Equipment: Electrical Boxes, Hardware Cabinets, and Network Rack Cabinets

When it comes to electricity, safety at job sites is of paramount importance. Your certified electricians will need to take precautions that are outlined by OSHA, but beyond the gear that’s on their person, here is some electrical equipment that can be implemented to keep job sites safer.

Electric junction boxes

Electrical socket boxes and electrical junction boxes are essentially the same thing, as their purpose is to enclose wire connections. The National Electrical Code (NEC) provides guidance on what type of boxes are best for different situations, and how best to pair them with matching covers. 

Hardware Cabinet

Hardware cabinets are essential for most electrical companies, as there can be no end to the shapes and sizes of circuits, tools, and other hardware. Having everything organized and ready to go saves a lot of time, and prevents critical errors from occurring. They’re also an added measure of security as they help prevent theft.

Network rack cabinet

Preventing theft on the job site will also be a goal if you have servers or other expensive computer equipment on site. Network rack cabinets can help negate this risk, and come in various sizes to support single server racks, multiple server rack shelves, or a series of network rack shelves.

Personal Safety: Fall Arrest Harnesses and Safety Harness Belts

Safety for construction workers has a lot to do with the equipment that they carry and use on their own bodies. Again, OSHA is a great authority for setting guidelines on PPE for construction site safety, but this section will mainly cover a couple of different kinds of harnesses that construction workers can use on site.

Safety harness belt

Safety harness belts are preferred by many workers because they don’t go around the torso like full body safety harnesses. Of course, the job site will determine which one is the best to use, as preference matters very little when it comes to safety. Safety harness belts typically come with one or two D rings to hold the belt and worker in place. 

Fall safety harness

A fall safety harness, or a fall arrest system prevents workers from falling on incomplete or moveable work surfaces. They also come with many parts, as the main components include a body harness, anchorage, and a connector. Connectors come in many different forms, and depending on the job site, you’ll need to make decisions about whether a lanyard is sufficient, or perhaps a deceleration device.

Job site safety equipment comes in all shapes and sizes, and serves a number of purposes for construction worker safety. While the NEC and organizations like OSHA provide guidelines for this equipment, there are many ecommerce stores that you can find online that can fulfill these needs, and provide the safety equipment your workers need to get the job done.

Keep ATEK Distribution in mind when you are choosing job site safety equipment. Call us today or shop online to get selection and great pricing.