Spring Safety Tips – Equipment Best Practices

Be Ready for the Spring Construction Season

For many parts of the country work slows or stops during the cold winter months. But then springtime comes, you have jobs coming in, and things start to get busy and crazy. Follow these tips and best practices to ensure your crew is ready to work when the spring construction season begins.

Always have the right gear

Spring often brings rain and sometimes ice. On construction jobsites that means wet, slippery surfaces that can potentially cause operator falls and injury. To prevent accidents and downtime due to spring rain and ice, it's important to ensure your entire crew has the proper footwear. Slip resistant boots should be worn by all after any rainfall, and crew members need to remove mud from the bottoms of their boots before they step into equipment or onto elevated surfaces.

Watch out for mud

In addition to slippery surfaces, spring rain also brings mud, and sometimes lots of it. Mud can severely inhibit the maneuverability of your heavy equipment and cause machines to slip or slide when operating on wet ground. It's important to ensure your crew is following all safety protocols when they are working near or operating heavy equipment in muddy conditions. These protocols include keeping away from machinery while it is in operation, wearing the proper protective equipment, and making sure operators use safety harnesses and belts. These safety practices are important in any conditions, but even more important when driving and working in the mud.

Keep an eye on the weather

Spring weather can vary and fluctuate unpredictably. Temperatures can be cold or even freezing in the morning when work begins, but by afternoon conditions can become hot. High temperatures can lead to dehydration or other illnesses caused by exposure to very hot weather. To be ready for any conditions, your team should wear multiple layers that can be removed throughout the day as temperatures rise. If it becomes hot, provide crew members with water breaks in a shaded area, along with access to sun resistant clothing or sunscreen.