When it comes to the maintenance and restoration of concrete storage units such as grain silos, the most common problem that we see every day is cost. Most facilities, over the last decade, have invested whatever funds are available into equipment, and the restoration budget usually takes the hit. The problem is that the deterioration process is a pyramid in nature. The observed small problem or failure not corrected immediately deteriorates exponentially as time passes. The repair costs increase exponentially as well. Now that so much time has passed since companies have invested in their storage facility, the cost of restoration is usually a shock.
When it comes to selecting a contractor for your project, several factors may come in to play, such as price or ability to meet a schedule. However, if the end result is a quality repair that will extend the service life of your structure, then the decision should come down to workmanship. In the end, it always comes down to workmanship. You can have the best technology in materials or equipment, but at the end of the day it is the craftsman on the wall who controls the outcome of the repair.
As technologies have progressed over the years, so have the types of materials that are used for exterior facades in building construction. Traditional materials such as brick masonry, stone, concrete and terra cotta are now being replaced or enhanced with architectural metal, glass, cast stone, aluminum, stainless steel, and exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).
Each of these materials has its own traits that are affected by the environment, which is why cleaning the exterior of structures is much more complicated nowadays rather than using the traditional pressure-washing or sandblasting techniques.
As temperatures are plummeting into the sub-zero range and deadlines are looming, it’s important to know the risk factors of cold stress and how to keep your employees safe and healthy.
What exactly is cold stress?
Extreme cold working conditions vary across the country, your body may be used to working in below zero temperatures, however if you are used to working in a warmer climate, near freezing temperatures may be considered “extreme cold.” Your body works harder to maintain its temperature and when temperatures drop below normal heat will escape your body more quickly. OSHA states: “Cold stress occurs by driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core). This may lead to serious health problems, and may cause tissue damage, and possible death.”
One component of keeping your team safe and on the job, is keeping them healthy. We have partnered with a local organization to implement an internal wellness program to do just that. However, what happens when the program is there, but you haven’t gotten the buy-in from your team. Not only does wellness improve the health of your employees, but also your bottom line by decrease healthcare costs. Creating innovative, fun ways to get your employees engaged will help improve participation rates as well as that bottom line.
Construction sites are a big emphasis for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). According to their website, construction is among the most dangerous industries in the country and construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections.
The four leading causes of construction industry fatalities are called the OSHA Focus Four. This includes the following hazards:
- Struck By
- Electrocution
- Caught-in-Between
- Fall
This final installment in our blog series will help identify “Caught in or in-between” hazards and how to keep your crew safe and free from injury on the jobsite.
Caught in or in-between hazards can cause injury or death in a variety of ways, including: cave-ins, being pulled into an unguarded piece of machinery, or being compressed between to moving objects or a moving and stationary object.
Construction sites are a big emphasis for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). According to their website, construction is among the most dangerous industries in the country and construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections.
The four leading causes of construction industry fatalities are called the “OSHA Focus Four”. This includes the following hazards:
Construction sites are a big emphasis for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). According to their website, construction is among the most dangerous industries in the country and construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections.
The four leading causes of construction industry fatalities are called the “OSHA Focus Four.” This includes the following hazards:
- Struck By
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Caught-in-Between
This is the second installment in our blog series addressing each of these. We will offer tips to help reduce unsafe conditions and increase education to promote employees recognition of those hazards. Read more »
Construction sites are a big emphasis for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). According to their website, construction is among the most dangerous industries in the country and construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections.
The four leading causes of construction industry fatalities are called the “OSHA Focus Four.” This includes the following hazards:
- Struck By
- Electrocution
- Caught-in-Between
- Fall
An organization’s culture is the basic pattern of shared values, beliefs, and attitudes which shape the way members of an organization behave. These cultures can be changed over time with strategic planning, but not easily. Consider the difficulty of changing one’s political or religious views. A company creating a strong safety culture places value on educating employees about the importance of living and breathing safe practices, whether at home or on the job. The commitment to creating this shift is the first step in the process of creating change.
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