Construction sites are, by their very nature, dangerous. The average site has heavy machinery moving around, large holes being dug, foundations being poured, and an abundance of hazardous material. In short, if you are not prepared for the unexpected then accidents will happen and people will get hurt. Figures show that approximately 200,000 people get injured every year at construction sites.
Pumps
One of the most common natural disasters is extreme weather that results in flooding. Heavy rain can turn a site into a bog, effectively trapping anyone in the mud. It can also flood the site and cause a huge amount of damage.
Site owners need to consider the drainage from the site, ensuring as much water as possible is directed away from the site and toward the nearest watercourse.
In addition, it is a good idea to invest in submersible pumps. These can be connected to the power via a sensor, allowing them to kick in as soon as water is detected. The pumps will remove the water, hopefully as fast as it arrives, effectively saving the site from serious harm.
Tie Downs
The good thing is that modern technology has developed and now offers a reasonable warning system, giving you an opportunity to secure the site before the bad weather gets here.
This means you will have a warning and, you need to take the time to tie everything down. As part of the build, there should be a designated point where large pieces of equipment can be strapped down. This dramatically reduces the likelihood of them taking off during the storm or hurricane. Anything that does take-off can cause damage to the site, other properties, and people.
If possible, items should be stored above ground level, this will potentially prevent them from being damaged by floods and rainwater.
Shut Down
A construction site should be secured as best as possible before the storm hitting and then the site should be left empty. This reduces the risk to life. You can return after the storm to see what damage has occurred.
Empty Your Dumpsters
The biggest risk in most extreme weather is the debris that flies around. One of the biggest causes of this is dumpsters full of rubbish. You need to empty the dumpster before the storm hits. If this isn’t possible then they should be covered with fine netting to prevent things from leaving them.
Create Your Off-Site Meeting Point
You don’t know how much damage may be done during a storm. The best approach is to have an off-site meeting point. The main crew can meet here after the storm and approach the site together. You can then assess the best way forward and direct the staff accordingly.
It isn’t possible to prepare for every eventuality. But securing items and using your common sense will reduce the risk to your site and to the people and properties in the vicinity. That is worth a few moments of your time.
