There are two primary issues which can lead to an accident due to the presence of rain.  The first is the water itself, which poses a threat in several ways.  Water can cling to almost any surface, making it slippery to the touch and underfoot.  This viscosity is even more pronounced should rain water mix with any chemicals or oils that may be on the ground or on a piece of equipment, making it harder to hold on to power tools, vehicle controls or even remain upright in certain situations.  Water can also soak through the clothing worn by workers and cause their body temperatures to drop, which over the course a shift can lead to severe health risks such as frostbite or even pneumonia.  Simply put, wet clothes can significantly accelerate the negative health impact of cold weather.

The second, less commonly associated risk presented by rain is low visibility, particularly when operating heavy equipment.  Whether rain is heavy or even just a gentle mist, the lack of light brought about by storm clouds almost always drops the distance at which workers can see each other.  This problem can be exacerbated when moving in and out of artificially illuminated spaces, such as an indoor warehouse and a much dimmer stock or lumber yard.

Fortunately, risk managers have a large number of options when it comes to mitigating these particular safety concerns.  Many levels of rainwear targeted towards an industrial application are available on the market, ranging from full rain suits such as the River City Dominator, which offers .42 mm of PVC and nylon protection from the elements, to lightweight options such as Zodiac .10 mm PVC rain suits.  The latter are particularly useful for workers who may only occasionally require protection from the wet, as their small form factor makes them convenient for transport out into isolated areas when rain might be in the forecast.  Simpler solutions, such as hooded raincoats and slush boots designed to provide cleated rubber grip on slippery surfaces are also available and should be considered the bare minimum for outdoor workers in a rainy climate.

With regards to visibility, industry-oriented rainwear is almost always available in high contrast or reflective colors such as yellow or bright green, with the option of reflective materials wrapped around them in order to stand out against even the darkest backdrops.  It is important to train workers to keep their rain gear as clean as possible in order to avoid masking its reflective qualities.  In particular, employees who must often inspect typically grimy areas such as sewers, waste collection facilities or those who service outdoor machinery should be aware of the need to regularly clean their rain suits.  If cleaning is not feasible on-site, then fresh rain protection should be made available for each shift in order to maintain the highest possible safety standard.

The ‘loudness’ or intensity of sound is measured using decibels (dBa), with a figure of around 45 dBa representing what most individuals would consider a quiet level of background noise.  On a worksite where heavy machinery or even hand tools are in frequent use, it is not inconceivable for noise levels to start at around 90 dBa.  Given that decibels are a logarithmic unit, this indicates far more than a doubling of ambient sound levels – it in fact represents a much, much louder environment.

To demonstrate just how quickly a decibel increase can result in hearing damage, it is helpful to look at the permissible exposure lengths to specific levels of sound provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Workers can tolerate a constant 90 dBa of noise for up to 8 hours before there is any danger of permanent hearing loss.  However, increase that value by merely 2 dBa and the safe exposure length drops to 6 hours.  At 95 dBa, the time before injury occurs is halved to four hours.

Just as continual exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent injury to an employee’s ears, a brief transient spike of loud sound can be equally scarring.  Exposure to sounds as loud as 139 dBa for more than just .11 seconds can cause significant damage.  To put that volume of sound into perspective, 139 dBa is approximately the auditory equivalent of a jet taking off or a gunshot.  There are plenty of chemical and other transformative processes that can produce this level of audio energy.  Those working in construction can also be exposed to sudden noise spikes caused by blasting and other explosives use.

It is clear that a simple and inexpensive investment in hearing protection can go a long way towards protecting the health of workers across a broad range of industries.  Hearing protection is generally divided into over-ear and in-ear categories, with the former providing up to 29 dBa of noise reduction (Optime 105 Series Earmuff) and the latter coming very close to that level (26 dBa for Moldex ear plugs).  It is even possible to purchase custom-molded earplugs that can block up to 40 dBa of sound.

Of course, some jobs require hearing protection that doesn’t interfere with communications between workers.  Products like the Peltor Push Earmuffs feature the ability to momentarily disable sound attenuation to the point where a conversation is possible.  It is important that any type of hearing protection that can be easily defeated always be accompanied by training that indicates when it is appropriate to do so without increasing the risk of permanent hearing damage.

The uneven terrain frequently encountered during outdoor logging operations can make it quite difficult for those operating vehicles to maintain a clear line of sight around them.  By the same token, loggers working on site may not always be able to detect the presence of machinery until it is close enough to potentially do them harm.  For this reason, managers must be careful to orchestrate tree clearing, transport and other vehicular operations so that sectors of a job site where personnel are clustered are protected from accidental intrusion.

The loading of logs, which can create unstable piles on the vehicle being loaded as well as destabilize stacks from which these logs are selected, is a particularly dangerous activity.  During loading operations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the area to be cleared, in order to prevent injury from falling logs or from the machinery actually performing the task.  Those involved in loading operations themselves must remain inside their vehicles, which additionally need to be reinforced to resist the impact of a log drop.  If equipment needs to be left onsite overnight, or if the operator needs to leave the cabin for any reason, the vehicle’s parking brake must be applied and all elements of the vehicle must be grounded.  It is not enough to assume that the terrain where the lifter, loader or truck is operating will provide enough stability and friction to keep a vehicle in place, particularly since shifting ground could easily upset the balance of improperly parked machinery.

The unpredictable nature of forest terrain also poses a problem for workers using power tools, particularly when felling trees.  In addition to the dangers associated with using chainsaws or even non-mechanical blades such as axes and saws, forestry workers must deal with the fact that a misstep could cause them to fall or injure themselves due to the rocks, brush or even water around them.  OSHA has mandated a specific list of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to prevent accidental injury related to chainsaws (such as lacerations or severe limb injury) as well as injuries which could occur as a result of a woodland environment.  PPE such as head protection, special leg protection, water repellant and cut-resistant boots as well as gloves are all required to be worn while felling trees or otherwise using a saw or blade while logging.  Hearing protection is also part of the overall PPE package, due to the excessive levels of noise produced by chainsaws.

Risk managers must take a proactive approach to dealing with logging safety.  The open-ended nature of a forestry job site provides many temptations for workers to skirt around the edge of safety policies, whether because of a perceived lack of supervision or the desire to get a job done in a quicker and possibly less secure way.  Adequate training and frequent inspections can be useful tools in preventing these behaviors from resulting in tragedy.

The most comprehensive type of fall protection available is known as a fall arrest system.  Designed to use a system of harnesses and ropes or cables to limit the distance which a worker can fall before they are caught and suspended, this type of fall protection requires careful training and proper maintenance to use.

A full harness, such as the Miller Revolution or the Miller Duraflex is meant to strap around the shoulders and the upper legs of an employee, in order to spread out the forces associated with sudden deceleration that are involved in falls.  This specific harness also helps to a fall victim to maintain greater control over their orientation while hanging from a support cable, which can simplify recovery efforts.  Some harnesses also provide a large back plate which further dissipates the shock of a fall, and can protect against impacts should the victim swing into a hard surface on the way down.  Tool belts and other attachments can usually be added to these harnesses in order to give them a practical edge.

Anchoring systems are an important complement to any fall protection harness and cable strategy.  While it is possible to anchor to a raw beam, this is not recommended as sharp edges can cut into a cable or rope while the anchoring point moves along with the worker during the performance of their task.  Instead, a beam anchor like that offered by Miller offers a secure attachment point that can slide along a beam without exposing a tether to any additional wear.  This type of anchor is strong yet lightweight, which makes it easy to carry while moving from one area of the job site to another.  For sites where a beam anchor cannot be safely attached to a building’s frame, cross-arm straps can be used as a less mobile but safer alternative to direct tethering.

Lifelines themselves should be regularly inspected in order to ensure that they have not begun to fray or display any other indications of weakness or damage.  Depending upon the environment in which they are used, a standard webbing lifeline from AOSafety SafeWaze or a galvanized steel Mightylite retractable lifeline are among the best options.  The Mightylite unit offers the further protection of an automatic brake that engages to gradually slow a worker’s descent during a fall, lessening any jerking at the end of the line that could result in musculoskeletal injury.  For areas where limited movement is acceptable, 6-foot shock absorbing webbed lanyards can provide OSHA-compliant fall protection without the added expense or complexity of a retractable lifeline.

Risk managers have long known that one of the keys to keeping employees from becoming victims of a tragic highway construction accident is to ensure that they are as visible as possible.  There are a number of ways to go about meeting this crucial requirement.  Night construction, where sight lines are the most compromised, often uses enormous floodlights which are designed to provide near daylight conditions in the site itself.  In addition, many state construction sites employ marked police cruisers with a full light package in order to draw attention to the areas where workers are present.

However, these methods have their drawbacks.  For example, bright lights contrasted against the dark night can often create glare that can actually increase the chance of an accident.  Also, at the municipal level, police vehicles are often too valuable of a resource to expend on local road construction.  This means that risk managers must turn to alternate and complementary means of making their workers obvious to drivers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has long considered the issue of highway construction worker safety, and has recently released a new letter of interpretation concerning the issue.  Specifically, OSHA has clarified their earlier position concerning the wearing of high visibility reflective vests.  While in the past official interpretations of OSHA regulations concerning this personal reflective gear restricted the requirement of its use to very specific situations outlined in the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the latest letter expands the scope considerably.

Whereas previously only those working as flaggers or who were exposed to vehicle traffic were called upon by regulations to wear reflective safety vests, OSHA now demands that any worker who is actually working construction on a job site with a right of way to a federal highway meet the same standards.  This blanket interpretation is back in line with OSHA’s original intent for the rule itself, and serves to provide a consistent level of visibility to all site workers.  Reflective vests such as those manufactured by Ergodyne, Glowear and Occulux, and which come in a variety of bright and eye-catching colors fully meet the new OSHA interpretation.

Construction risk managers are responsible for ensuring that those in their charge are provided with high visibility apparel.  Not only that, but they must also ensure that such clothing is both care for and worn properly.  For example, reflective apparel which has become dirtied through continual use is significantly less safe than that which is regularly washed and cleaned.  Likewise, workers must be shown how to go about their tasks without concealing the reflective portions of their clothing, as well as how to properly wear each item in order to maximize visibility.  Simple training and common sense can go a long way towards preventing unnecessary injury on a highway construction work site.

Colder temperatures can have an impact on employees in ways that may not be immediately obvious.  Limbs, muscles and nerves which have been dulled by the cold do not react nearly as quickly as they do at room temperature, and manual dexterity is also lower.  This can increase the chances of an accident involving power tools, electrical wiring or any other task that requires delicate and precise hand movements.  Exposure to the cold can also affect skin in a way that is not noticeable until it is too late to take steps to reverse the damage. Specialty cold-weather gloves are a must.

There are a number of different options that risk managers can employ to augment the personal protection equipment of their outdoor workers during the winter season.  Portable work tents are a good solution for individual workers performing maintenance tasks or inspection work in a specific area for an extended period of time.  Allegro manufactures several different work tents that are designed to protect employees from strong winds, snow and rain while on the job.  Using a flame retardant material framed by metal poles, these tents can be set up from the inside and also offer a blower duct tube.  Heaters for these tents are also available, which can greatly extend the period of time a worker can spend on task.

For jobs which require more mobility than a tent allows, such as a site walk-through or more rapid inspection process, risk managers should focus on providing their employees with thermal gear that complements and works with their personal protective equipment.  Liners that fit under hard hats without compromising their safety are particularly helpful, and can be purchased in designs that wrap around the full face, neck or just the top of the head.  Insulating gloves that can be worn inside of protective work gloves are another excellent option for dealing with the cold, as in general wearing different layers is a good strategy for keeping out the cold.

Even though it can be tempting to pile on as many different jackets, vests and other types of field gear as possible in an effort to stave off the winter chill, risk managers must be vigilant that workers are not impeding their mobility through the use of too many layers.  Not only can too many layers make for clumsy movement, but extra clothing can easily snag on scaffolding or other sharp and protruding surfaces, potentially leading to a fall or other type of injury.