Wind Hazards
Weather plays an important role on how we work safely on our job sites. High wind is a component of weather that can pose many hazards for workers. Our task is to: protect our workers and the public from hazards on a construction site; provide securement; and facilitate safe passage.
Hazards created by wind can include, but are not limited to:
- Unplanned movement of equipment
- Objects falling from elevated surfaces
- Struck-by incidents, due to objects blown around
- Eye injuries caused by flying dust and debris
- Equipment damage due to being tipped over by forceful winds
- Dropped loads while performing a lift in high winds
- Increased loads on tarped or hoarded structures causing a tip-over or collapse
- Failure of scaffold hoarding and site fencing due to improper material and design
Eliminating/mitigating hazards related to high winds
- Eliminate the hazards by stopping a work task that poses a hazard due to wind conditions (i.e., roof work, lifting operations)
- Jobs involving aerial lifts, cranes and sheathing materials must be properly evaluated with wind conditions
- Different or additional PPE may be required (goggles vs. safety glasses against flying dust and debris)
- Do not react or reach for dropping objects (i.e. losing a hardhat in the wind). This can result in slips, falls and strain/sprains
- Do not place hands in or near equipment that may rotate or move due to high winds
STOP DANGER / STOP DEFECTS
*Tool Box Talk based on GC submitted by Eric Cameron – Exelon Mystic Station