Spring seems to be one of the best times of year for many people. Construction projects, which may have seemed long and never-ending in the winter, pick up the pace as the sun starts shining brighter.
Window cleaning, painting, façade repair are very popular in the spring. However, as this time of the year comes, it brings numerous hazards, which people tend to overlook. Let’s review a few of them.
1. Slippery Roads
Even when the snow is gone, roads remain highly dangerous in the spring. Sudden rain can make the road slippery in seconds. Using height access equipment, which involves driving to the worksite and around it, needs special attention.
When the rain is in the forecast, the equipment operators need to be extra careful about moving around the site.
In case the height-access project is planned for rough terrain, it’s important to have a backup plan. Wet and loose soil can lead to accidents.
2. Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are common in the spring. They usually come with damaging winds and dangerous lightning. Anything unsecured becomes a hazard. At a construction site, a thunderstorm can wreak havoc.
Wind-driven rain can blind the equipment operator and lead to an accident. Lightning can strike tall objects at the work sites. It’s highly important to avoid height-access work when a thunderstorm is in the forecast.
3. Flooding
When spring comes, floods aren’t far behind. Even if the area you are working in hasn’t been flooded in the past couple of years, there is still a chance it might be this spring. Watch the weather conditions carefully, especially when leaving your height access equipment in hazardous zones.
Moving water is so strong that it can easily sweep away any equipment, including boom lifts and trucks with platforms.
4. Strong Winds
Strong winds may not seem as hazardous as floods or thunderstorms, but they are highly dangerous for people working at heights. When renting height-access equipment, make sure to ask the company what weather conditions it can withstand.
Some of the scissor and boom lifts can easily topple over when strong winds occur. Follow the wind limitations carefully to ensure workers’ and equipment safety.
For height-access projects, spring is often more dangerous than winter. It’s important to check the forecast and practice safety.
Alpha Platforms is the pioneer in operated boom lift rentals and height access service in the 150-300-ft range. Our precise German-made lifts have become the favorite height access method for those who try them once, as they combine unmatched productivity, safety, and reach.
