The hazards of any construction job are going to be multiplied by winter conditions. But for septic service companies, the challenges of winter often lead to more work, not less. That means you can’t avoid these hazards like other related industries can. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the risks of working in the cold. Doing so successfully can save you time, money, equipment, and injury. So, let’s get into it.
5 Tips for Protecting Your Gear & Crew in Cold Weather
1. Think Hazard Mitigation, Not Hazard Elimination
First, it’s important to understand that working in cold conditions is dangerous no matter what you do. At the end of the day, there’s only one thing that will carry the day injury-free, and that’s to be more careful than you would normally be. Go slower, think longer, and prep more. Aside from that, the rest of this list is just icing on the safety cake.
2. Gear Prep
Your first move should be to thoroughly inspect all of your equipment. Any hardware that is prone to wear and tear, (so everything, basically) should be checked for cracks, fissures, and other signs of a potentially catastrophic failure. Remember, some things will be more likely to break dramatically in cold weather. That goes for people and protective gear as well.
In particular, check belts, hoses, fittings, and everything that bears weight, stress, impact, and the like. If something looks like it might not make it through a job safely, consider repairing or decommissioning it. Even a small accident is likely to lead to some downtime, so keep that in mind and protect your income by protecting your equipment.
Having good winter equipment is a good idea as well. Shovels, an ice melter, brushes, brooms, and more should always come with you on cold-weather jobs.
3. Site Prep
Winter conditions can make an otherwise relatively safe location dangerous. Sharp objects, unstable materials, uneven footing, and more can hide beneath a layer of snow. Ice can be invisible. Changing temperatures can create puddles, draw in moisture where it doesn’t belong, cause unexpected electrical hazards, and more.
Objects in freezing conditions can be unpredictable. Therefore, you need to inspect the site thoroughly. Prep surfaces for walking on, or at least use the right footwear. Other valuable safety gear includes knee and elbow pads, helmets, sturdy gloves, and the like. Also, make sure your crews don’t lose communications out there. If phones go down in harsh conditions, it might be a good idea to pause work until communications are restored.
4. Crew Prep
Your team is your most valuable asset. When it comes to sending out a crew in tough conditions, consider only sending your most experienced, capable, and patient people. Make safety equipment mandatory. Call it the winter company uniform if you have to.
In addition to the safety gear mentioned above, require your crews to wear the necessary layers to protect against frostbite and similar injury. In addition to this, send emergency equipment with them. This includes flashlights, radios, batteries, blankets, and snow removal tools.
5. Budget Matching
Finally, make sure the additional winter gear you need fits your budget. The best way to do this is to build your winter loadout over time. Don’t wait until the last minute and go buy all the cold weather equipment you need. Invest in it steadily, and build up a quality winter toolkit. If you wait to get winterized at the last minute, you may be tempted to leave things off the list and buy low-quality items.
When everything is said and done, your bottom line won’t be what it could be if you don’t successfully mitigate the risks of working in winter conditions. Follow these and other important safety guidelines, get home in one piece, and get to the next job with your full tool kit intact. Be sure to come back for more valuable septic service best practices.