Safety at your job site is one of the effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset, i.e., your workers. Losing your workers to injury or accidents, even for a short period, can cause disruption to your business and raise direct or indirect costs. It can affect not only your workers but also their families as well.
Unfortunately, many construction workers still worry about whether they will make it home safely tonight. If this is what your workers feel you need to provide some assurance and take necessary steps to provide a secure workplace environment. Introducing safety programs and equipment can provide multiple benefits:
- Improvement in production and quality
- Better employee morale
- A favorable image and reputation among the customers, suppliers, and the community.
Working on a bridge or a steel construction project is a hazardous job. Despite major advances in construction safety, it is still risky to work on a construction job. These land-based jobs are more vulnerable to workplace injuries. According to the 2018 report on workplace fatalities and injuries, Canadian workers compensation boards reported that 904 workers died due to work-related causes in 2016. Researchers and manufacturers are continually developing new tools, protective gears, and equipment to provide safety to workers. Let's take a look at seven safety equipment that should be used to protect bridge workers.
Specialized Bridge Access Equipment
One of the biggest fears faced by bridge workers is falling from a height. This happens when workers use the wrong equipment or misuse the equipment without knowing its capacity. During the construction of Champlain ice bridge, a worker died by falling from the bridge into the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. The worker fell after the suspended scaffolding platform he was working on had collapsed.
If your project includes hard to reach sections, consider bridge access machines to accomplish the tasks in a safe and efficient way. Bridge access machines are specialized units having the following features:
- Reach for thorough inspections
- Rotatable platform to access the bridge deck
- Operable from the sidewalk to avoid traffic issues
- Enables positioning of workers to specific locations on the bridge
Each type of bridge access equipment such as bridge-walkers, hydra platforms, Paxton-Mitchel snoopers, UBITs, etc. fill specific bridge construction needs. Consult the experts from a reputable firm that can recommend the correct equipment for the bridge jobs.
Head Protection Gears
Head injuries can be very complicated as it can lead to multiple types of damages to the skull and brain. The use of head protection gear is particularly important for employees working in environments such as bridge construction because of the increased probability of injuries. The injuries caused can be a result of falls, accidents, and handling heavy materials or machinery.
Head protection gears absorb energy from the impact reducing the force sustained by the head and spread out the impacted area. Head protection gears act as a reinforced protective layer against the dangers posed to workers from falling materials. Choosing the right head protection gear and using it correctly can protect both your workers and your wallet. As a supervising manager or employer on the site, you are responsible for providing the appropriate type of head protection gear to your workers.
Protective Gloves
The construction consists of hazards which can cause severe damage to the hands of your workers. It is crucial to provide the right type of gloves according to the tasks to be performed during the bridge construction. Here are some types of hand protection gloves:
- Cotton and fabric gloves: The simplest glove to keep your hands clean and protect against minor cuts and abrasions.
- Coated fabric glove: It helps to protect against moderate chemicals and liquids.
- Rubber, plastic or synthetic gloves: Worn while cleaning or working with oils, solvent, and other chemicals.
- Leather gloves: Protects against heat, cuts, and abrasions. It is perfect for structural welding and general construction works.
- Kevlar gloves: These gloves are cut and abrasion resistant and also protect against heat and cold.
Protective Footwear
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most of the general industry incidents involve slips, trips, and falls. They cause 15% of all accidental deaths. One way to reverse this trend for workers is to ensure that they wear proper protective footwear on the construction sites. Use protective footwear if you have the following areas in your construction site:
- Areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to the rolling and falling objects
- The possibility of prickly objects to pierce the sole of shoes
- Electrical hazards such as static discharge, or electric shock
Face Shields and Glasses
Eyes and face protection including safety glasses and face shields are vital for bridge workers. Facial and eye injuries happen when foreign objects and particles hit the face. It can happen while structural welding, cutting, grinding, nailing, or working with concrete. During the bridge construction, you can faces hazards like extreme winds; sparks from steel, concrete, and electrical work; smoke; and dangerous chemicals. To prevent these hazards to cause eye and facial damage, you need protection using proper equipment.
Protective Gadgets for Ears
You can't reduce the noise created by the construction work. Workers can be exposed to high-level noises that can cause hearing loss or impairment. It can also create physical and psychological stress. All workers must use hearing protection. Consider opting for earmuffs and plugs to negate the loud noise levels.
Signage and Barriers
Adequate signage and appropriate barriers can provide a significant amount of protection to the workers on the bridge construction sites. It can reduce the risk associated with possible hazards on the site. Standard types of barriers and signage include:
- Guardrails and handholds
- Sawhorses
- Tape
- Toeboards
- Cones
Signs that state ‘DANGER, WARNING, OR CAUTION’ can act as lifesavers for your workers. It is important to make signs legible, visible and brief.
Unfortunately, injuries and deaths do happen due to the risky nature of the tasks and difficult locations. It is important to take necessary precautions on the construction site by using the right safety equipment for your workers. We, at Northern Weldarc, believe in the safety of our employees as they are our valuable asset. If you are facing challenges in your bridge and steel construction projects, consult the experts at Northern Weldarc. To know more about us and our industry experience, contact us today!
