Staying Safe When Constructing a Metal Jetty
If you are planning to construct a metal jetty on a river or lake, it is important that you understand the various safety measures you must put in place to protect the work crew. When working near and above a body of water, the workforce faces additional risks to the standard risks found on any construction site. Read on to find out more about the safety precautions you need to implement.
Implement a non-lone working policy
From day one of the project, you should issue and enforce a non-lone working policy. This policy will dictate that there must always be two contractors working together at all times and that no one should work alone. If someone is working alone and they get into difficulty or fall into the water, they may not be able to rescue themselves or raise the alarm. Working in pairs greatly increases the chance that if one person gets into trouble, someone will be around to offer help and assistance.
Issue contractors with life jackets
Modern life jackets are designed to be lightweight and compact. This means that construction workers can wear them while carrying out a task without the lifejacket getting in the way or slowing them down. Whenever a contractor is working to construct a jetty, and they are near or over the water, they should be wearing a lifejacket. Even if a construction worker is a strong swimmer, they may find staying afloat while wearing heavy work boots and clothing difficult so a wearing lifejacket could be the difference between life and death.
Use safety lines
When using equipment to work on sections of metal which are suspended above a body of water, it is essential that contractors use safety lines. The safety line will help to protect them from the risk of falling from a height into the water. Falling from a height into water isn't much different from falling from a height and impacting the ground as the surface tension of the water produces a great deal of resistance to the human body. If a worker does slip and fall, the safety line will stop them from sustaining a serious injury or losing their life.
If you would like further advice about creating and maintaining a safe working environment when constructing a metal jetty, you should contact a local construction company which specialises in this area of work. A team member will be happy to help.
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