Health & Safety - Building Sites in Winter

1. Health & Safety - BuildingSitesin Winter

2. Introduction Whilst dark, damp, windy and cold mornings and evenings invade our lives it is crucial that you ensure health and safety standards are met. Employers should provide staff with any necessary equipment which will ensure their safety whilst working on a building or construction site. In this short article, we will discuss the standards that employers and employees are expected to meet and how TAG Systems can help them and you ensure your safety this winter.

3. Lighting With a shorter amount of daylight during the winter construction and building sites are often left in the dark. There is an easy answer to this issue of course: install lighting. Installing lighting is crucial for any site looking to guarantee safety and temporary systems allow rapid deployment without disrupting workflow. Lighting not only improves safety will also act as a deterrent to intruders, thieves and vandals.

4. Clothing When it comes to construction Personal Protective Equipment, particularly gloves, are essential, especially during the winter months. Finding the correct gloves can be difficult but not, however, impossible. You need gloves which offer protection against the harsh environment while still allowing movement in your hand. Your face and neck are other crucial areas that need protection during the winter. Face masks have become increasingly popular among construction workers allowing them to stay warm whilst not causing interference in their work. Neck warmers are also popular, providing neck and face protection without the risk of getting caught in machinery. One of the most important parts of the body to think about is your feet. It is extremely important that you get a pair of water-proof and insulated boots to help keep your feet dry as, once they’re wet, you may have to wait the rest of the day before you can dry them. As well as insulation ensure they have good grip, slipping on ice is not just embarrassing but can cause long term injury.

5. Tarpaulins and sheeting In the face of winter weather, which can include high winds, snow and rain, tarpaulins or sheeting may become crucial. Using some form of either to protect your site can help prevent hours of work being damaged or completely washed away. Just remember it is extremely important that you strap it down securely to prevent high winds from blowing it across the site, potentially injuring someone or causing extensive damage.

6. Don’t forget One more thing to remember about these dark winter nights is that these are the perfect conditions for thieves, vandals and arsonists. Make sure your site is secure and CCTV is in operation, gates are locked and secured and that fencing is checked each night before work ends. Taking these steps, along with utilising lighting and protective equipment will ensure you have a successful and safe winter. For more information on security visit us online where we have a range of blogs offering some quick and simple tips on keeping your site secured throughout the year.

7. Let Tag monitor, detect... Merlin House, Gibson Road Hemswell Cliff Business Centre Gainsborough, Lincoln DN21 5TL Tel: 01427 666111 enquiries@tag­guard.com