You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. They also bring a whole host of safety hazards for outdoor workers, which is why using spring safety tips is so important. Cold weather safety isn’t the only thing you should be mindful of. While the dawn of spring means warmer temperatures, it also means you have unique safety concerns that you need to navigate while on the jobsite, including increased risk of slip-and-fall accidents, lightning, and potential cave-ins.
We’ve compiled this list of spring safety tips, to help you, your workers, and your co-workers stay safe. Let’s get into it!
#1. Use Personal Protective Equipment
Spring may seem like a breath of relief because it means that winter is finally over. However, spring is known for being warm and sunny one day and freezing cold the next. One of our top spring safety tips for outdoor workers is to ensure that you’re always equipped with proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety goggles, hearing protection, reflective outerwear, waterproof clothing, waterproof boots with good traction, breathable layers you can take off or leave on as needed, and more.
If you’re working by roads or near traffic, you don’t want to run the risk of drivers not seeing you, especially in the event of a low-visibility rainstorm. Bright, reflective outerwear helps make you and your workers more visible, which keeps you safer, since drivers and motorists will be able to tell that you are there. Waterproof equipment, such as coats and gloves, can also keep you and your workers protected and healthier whenever showers strike.
#2. Watch The Forecast
Spring can be rainy, but thunderstorms and high winds can come out of nowhere. If there’s risk of lightning or high winds, you want to ensure that you take the appropriate safety measures. Wind can be incredibly dangerous, making this spring safety tip especially important if you’re working with sheets of materials, as you could get blown off of a roof or down a street while trying to work with plywood or drywall or what have you.
Make sure that you go over lightning protocol. In many cases, if you hear thunder, it is likely safer for you and your fellow workers to wait it out. Lightning can strike a full 10 miles from a storm. This can make working on tall equipment and metal structures very dangerous.
Additionally, intense rain can cause flash flooding at worksites. We’ve included watching the weather among our spring safety tips because you want to ensure that you and your workers know the protocols for what to do in the event of inclement weather, as well as go over your worksite’s fall protection measures and the like.
Although it may seem inconvenient to have to wait a storm out rather than working through it, doing so can go a long way to keeping people safe.
#3. Wipe Mud Off Of Gloves And Boots
With spring showers comes mud. Lots and lots of mud. While there’s no way to keep a worksite entirely free of mud and dirt, you’ll still want to do what you can to keep it as clean as possible. This is especially important when it comes to equipment and structures. Simply wiping the mud off of gloves and boots can go a long way to keeping your equipment and structures from getting slippery and dangerous.
Plus, utilizing this spring safety tip also keeps the equipment and structures cleaner, which allows them to function better.
#4. Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Nice as the warm sun may feel, it can cause some serious damage to your skin and overall health. This includes sunburns and heightened risk of skin cancer. Thus, one of our spring safety tips is to ensure that you don’t forget to put on sunscreen. Everyone should use sunscreen, regardless of their natural skin tone, as skin cancer can affect anyone. Ensure that you’re reapplying it throughout the day as recommended so that it remains as effective as possible.
Additionally, you’ll want to wear light colors, long sleeves, and hats when possible, as these also help to protect your skin from sunburn and skin cancer.
#5. Stay Hydrated
While many people think of this more as a summer safety tip than a spring safety tip, the truth is that staying hydrated is a year-round safety tip. It’s especially important to remember during the spring, because many people can be unprepared when spring hits them with a sudden hot day after a week of mild weather. Staying hydrated ensures that you stay in good health.
All Trades Staffing Services LLC is here to help. If you need any more spring safety tips or if you’re looking for temp workers or a temp job, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Leave a Reply