When it comes to monitoring extreme weather conditions on the job site, understanding the inherent wind risk is extremely important, especially when dealing with employee safety, expensive supplies, and the risk of property damage. For rain and storms, planning and timing are fairly straightforward if you’ve been trained. However, what can you do you plan for unique instances when the wind seems to come out of nowhere?
CASE STUDY
A late-winter cold front swept through the Mid-Atlantic in late February 2022 bringing very little rain, but lots of wind. Gusts topped 40mph in a brief window of 6 hours as the front moved through. At the same time, bridge repair was underway in Roanoke, Virginia. Scaffolding was erected under the bridge and scaffolding sheeting was being used. This is common practice and is often used to protect workers, machinery, and open construction against rain, wind, snow, and even debris that may fall during construction.
The same sheeting that can protect workers against the elements can also become a sail during high wind events. Such was the case at the Roanoke job site. The high winds from the cold front blew over the scaffolding onto a heavily traveled road. Fortunately, no cars or pedestrians were nearby, nor were workers onsite at the time of the incident. One could only imagine the outcome. An event like this can not only result in property damage but also damage a company’s reputation.
Teaching employees how to spot hidden weather dangers on the job is what we do. Using custom courses and on-site or remote training, Severe Brainstorm steps you and your team to identify weather risks and mitigate damage to life and property.
Contact Us to learn more.