Preparing for Extreme Weather on the Jobsite

How to safeguard lives, materials

By Chris Schmidt

Jobsite safety and turning out a quality project are, hands down, the top two priorities for construction superintendents. And managing this in the midst of extreme weather is no exception. From hurricanes and tornadoes, to flooding and heat indices in the triple digits, superintendents must consider Mother Nature’s fickle temperament on a daily basis. Construction Superintendent recently surveyed construction personnel in an informal poll about how best to prepare for and manage weather-related construction challenges this time of year.

When asked about the common and no-so-common challenges of extreme weather, and how to combat the risks to materials and building structures, Mike Yelm, superintendent with Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors, says, “In North Texas, we”ve experienced record-breaking rainfall over the last few months, which has meant delays on projects like we have never seen. Regardless of the weather, we are responsible for delivering completed projects on time.”

He continues: “To make up for lost days, it’s a combination of creativity and sheer determination. On installations that require a certain temperature and dryness that is hard or impossible to achieve with all the moisture, we might bring in a trailer-mounted air conditioner to make sure we meet deadlines. Another option on certain jobs is to backfill with rock rather than soil to avoid delays pouring concrete.”

A recurring solution to extreme weather challenges among the respondents included pre-planning. “Paying attention to weather warnings is not to be taken lightly,” says Skanska Senior Superintendent John Yunker. “Any advanced activities that can be complete before arrival is also wise planning. For instance, while working on a hospital along the East Coast and two hours inland, we were hit hard with the effects of a hurricane. We worked for a few days lashing items down and securing everything possible.”

“To make sure we”re prepared for severe weather like tornadoes,” Yelm says, “which are always a threat in our region during the spring months, we have specific plans in place. More frequently than the threat of things blowing away, it’s the threat of structures not being fully waterproofed. Temporary waterproofing plans and roofing early on multi-story buildings is critical to avoiding costly damage and claims.”

Kevin Breece, project executive of field operations at Skanska, says, “Developing checklists to prepare the project team for storm events allows for every scenario to be reviewed. Items such as incorporating ballast to support systems in place, banding machines to secure materials, dunnage to keep material off the floor and temporary curbs or gaps between slab tie-ins around new tie-ins and openings to prevent flooding, along with bringing in temporary generators to provide for loss of power, are some of the safeguards that can be put in place to prevent loss and damage.”

“High winds are an issue in Chicago and other jobsites,” states Ryan Poropat, superintendent at Mortenson Construction. “At the University of Chicago residence hall, Mortenson is currently lifting sections of walls into place for the towers, including one that is 15 stories. The power cranes cannot be used when winds hit 45 miles per hour; a gauge in the cab enables the operator to track wind speeds. But since the wall sections act almost like big flat sails, work is shut down for safety reasons if wind speeds reach into the mid-30s.”

When asked about specific training for handling weather extremes, Yelm says, “At safety orientation every morning, we discuss plans for weather extremes and ensure every member of our team knows what to do in the event of severe lightning, flash flooding, tornadoes, hail or other unforeseen events. Safe rooms or designated areas are outlined, as well as plans for securing equipment and supplies. We go over mock scenarios and examples of real-life instances from across the country are used as discussion points about what to do or what not to do.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration understands how serious extreme weather can be on the jobsite. According to the June 15 OSHA eNewsletter, about one-third of heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry. As a call to action, for the fifth year OSHA has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service to prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses. Important worker safety information is included in all NWS extreme heat alerts, and a smartphone heat safety app has been developed that allows users to calculate risk levels at a worksite and learn the protective measures needed to prevent heat illness. Almost 200,000 people have downloaded the app so far. Visit OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention page for more information and to download or order heat illness educational materials in English or Spanish.

According to Yelm, “Since we deal with more intense heat for longer periods of time in north Texas than other parts of the country, we take a note from Cal/OSHA (California State Plan) and its unique standards related to heat exposure. Their plan mandates that a certain amount of square footage and shade be allotted per employee with certain breaks.”

Poropat also reiterates the signs of heat stroke and heat stress to his project team, and discusses how to avoid heat-related illnesses. In addition to water stations with coolers and ice throughout the jobsite, “Each crew member is reminded to watch his or her partner for signs of heat distress.” And, despite the hot temperatures, worker safety gear includes hardhat, safety glasses, gloves, work boots and long pants; shirts require at least 4-inch sleeves to cover shoulders.

Along with heat safety, sun safety is another extreme weather consideration. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 2 million people in the U.S. develop over 3.5 million non-melanoma skin cancers every year, making skin cancer the most common form of cancer in the United States. However, it’s also a highly preventable form of cancer because it’s most often caused by overexposure to the sun. Yet, it’s important to note that UV light still penetrates the clouds on hazy days.

In addition to regular on-the-job sun safety training, tips on how to protect against harmful UV rays include :

• Wear a hardhat with full brim, gloves, light-colored clothing/long sleeves and UV-resistant wraparound protective goggles
• Apply a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater

Jobsite first-aid kits should include sun block, electrolyte fluids, aloe or another cooling agent and over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. And be aware of the signs of a serious burn.

Although extreme weather is often preceded by NWS warnings, oftentimes there might be little to no advance notice. Having preventive measures in place—as well as regular safety updates and drills on measures that should be implemented in the event of a freak storm—can help safeguard lives and materials on the jobsite.