7 Tips to Prepare for a Busy Summer Construction Season

It’s going to be a busy 2022 construction season, now is the time to prep. This means having a full staff, inventory levels adjusted for increased workloads, and safety measures in place to protect the crew.

Safety is important in all seasons, but it’s especially critical on summer construction sites because of the dangers associated with heat and exhaustion. To complete tasks on time and within budget, you’ll need to look ahead and consider how to increase site safety while also reducing material and equipment costs during the busy season. Here are seven ideas to help you out.

1. Have A Construction Fan On Hand

Construction sites without air circulation might cause heat and air quality hazards, as well as unforeseen problems such as noise control and fire risks. Because employees are generally on construction sites for a brief period of time, a construction fan is particularly useful for generating continuous ventilation. Mobile fans may be used to help create safe, healthy, and productive working environments in any location.

Large-diameter overhead fans are an effective method of increasing air movement and energy efficiency in more long-term settings such as construction equipment and vehicle storage depots. Pro Tool carries both pedestal and portable construction fans from 24″ to 36″.

2. A Construction Site Air Conditioner Can Save the Day

Without the advantages that air conditioning provides on hot summer days, we’d still be living in the stone age. A portable air conditioner adds cooled air to construction sites, helping to balance the heat generated by equipment and human bodies. Pro Tool stocks a variety of construction site air conditioners with wheels so they may be readily relocated. We carry units from 13,200 to 21,000 BTUs (the higher the number, the more heat it removes from the room).

3. Ventilators and Dehumidifiers

Construction projects used to take 6-9 months, during which time the building materials would typically dry out via natural ventilation once the structure was completed. However, today’s construction work is much more efficient and faster. While construction fans and construction site air conditioners can help, dehumidification and ventilation are necessary to remove the extra water from the numerous building components before they can be utilized.

When it comes to construction crews, humidity is one of the most unbearable weather-related conditions. Workers will have trouble focusing and that will increase the opportunity for substandard work, or worse, accidents. Our job site ventilators and dehumidifiers can help increase the effectiveness of both material and personnel.

4. Increase Staffing

It’s difficult to find exceptional employees, so you need to be proactive and hire early. You’ll want a fully staffed team of competent and prepared individuals before starting new projects or tackling each item on your summer schedule. The key to having the greatest possible crew is to recruit early, giving your employees time to become trained and accustomed to the company culture before getting caught up in work. Workers with excellent job ethics and specialized abilities will be quickly hired, so keep that in mind when recruiting.

5. Get Ahead of Supply Chain Issues

We live in an age when everything is scarce, and construction, like every other industry, has seen a significant increase in new business making it harder to find the tools and materials you need. Also, prices have risen as a result of the increased demand and limited transportation infrastructure. This means you must be vigilant in purchasing the materials needed for success and have dependable suppliers like Pro Tool and Supply on your team to keep your jobs moving forward.

Make a point of double-checking your inventory for any items you’ll require when undertaking projects on a larger scale. After you’ve looked over what you already have, you may notice some items that need to be updated or sections of your inventory that need to be included. This is the ideal moment to make these purchases before they’re needed. Consider:

  • Buying fasteners in bulk
  • Taking advantage of any downturns in the lumber/steel markets.
  • Assign the responsibility of inventory readiness to a qualified individual in your company.

6. Make Sure Your Equipment is Up-to-Date

Another crucial task to complete before beginning summer projects is to ensure that your equipment is up to date and ready to use. That starts with a thorough examination of your current equipment to verify that everything is in good working order.

  • Install new saw blades on portable and permanent equipment.
  • Service all tools powered by an engine.
  • Check warranties and replace any tools that are too old to be dependable or consider renting them from Pro Tools.

7. Ensure the Safety of Your Team

When on construction or renovation sites, all employees should wear proper protective equipment (PPE) at all times. Workers in the line of traffic from automobiles, should wear high-visibility safety vests. The upper half of the body should be concealed by clothing that extends to the wrists. Shirts without sleeves, short pants, sweatpants, runners, sandals, and high-heeled or open-toed shoes are all examples of inappropriate attire. Other PPE may be required depending on the circumstances and possible dangers:

  • Back belts
  • Dust masks/face shields
  • Gloves
  • Hearing Protection
  • Hand-wash Stations

For help finding the right job safety and climate control solutions for your team, our skilled technicians are always on hand. Request a Quote or call us at 1-866-405-2985 to speak with a Pro Tool & Supply representative for more information on our stock of construction dehumidifiers, ventilators, portable construction air conditioners, and fans.

5 Summer Safety Tips for Construction Workers

The hot summer heat can make working uncomfortable. Without the right preparation and equipment, it can also quickly become very dangerous.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are not only uncomfortable, but can lead to serious illness or even death. Even less-serious overheating can lead to injuries and accidents affecting other construction workers and property.

As your job sites begin to heat up this year, it’s important to create an environment where construction workers are able to reduce the risk of overheating, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

Some methods and tools to keep in mind include:

1. Stay hydrated and have plenty of accessible drinking water

Staying well-hydrated is the body’s best defense against hot working conditions. On-site, make sure workers have ample water on hand, and are encouraged to drink throughout the day.

For long shifts, making sure everyone has a chance to eat is also important for hydration, since both water and salts are a necessary part of maintaining an electrolyte balance.

2. Provide shaded areas for resting

Making sure workers have a chance to avoid direct sun exposure during breaks helps to keep workers cool and prevent sunburn and heatstroke.

Having proper equipment and supplies, including cooler mesh gear where possible, sunglasses, and sunscreen are all also important tools.

3. Take constant breaks

Giving the body a chance to cool down during activity is key during hot weather. Continuous work in the heat is not advisable.

The CDC estimates the amount of break time needed depending on the environmental conditions, air temperature, and type of work being done – for example, doing moderate work at 101 degrees Fahrenheit typically requires 20 minutes of break time for every 40 minutes of work.

You can adjust the work/rest schedule to your worksite, but keep in mind that self-pacing alone may not be sufficient.

4. Learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses

Heat stress is dangerous partly because it can come on suddenly – the person experiencing it may not realize what is happening. Making sure you and your workers know how to recognize signs of heatstroke and heat sickness, and what to do if someone has these symptoms, can be key to keeping everyone safe.

Some signs to look for include:

  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle cramps
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Clammy, damp, or pale skin
  • Strange behavior or altered mental state
  • Panting/rapid breathing, rapid heart rate

If someone has these symptoms, they should stop working and seek medical attention immediately.

Some people may be at higher risk of heat-related illnesses due to their age, health history, or other factors.

5. When working indoors, make sure to use construction climate control

Being in an enclosed space can quickly make even mild days feel sweltering. Construction air conditioning and dehumidification are both essential to keep workers safe, cool and productive. The Pro Group carries a range of portable climate control options for sale and rental.

Construction dehumidifiers

Humidity is the presence of water molecules in the air. Warmer air can hold more water than cold air, meaning that warmer temperatures often mean higher indoor humidity.

Your body’s main defense against heat is to sweat, which works because water evaporating off your skin makes you cooler. If there is too much moisture in the air, more water will sit on your skin.

Construction dehumidification is already an important tool for many indoor jobsite environments since damp air can mean poorer drying and curing for many processes.  When it comes to heat protection, making indoor spaces dryer can also make the difference for worker safety.

The Pro Group carries several indoor dehumidification tools, including the DRI EAZ lgr 7000, which offers portable, high-performance water removal at rates of up to 130 pts./day. This option also offers a built-in self-monitoring system which make automatic fan speed adjustments over the course of the day.

Construction air conditioning

When keeping the air dry and moving isn’t enough, air conditioning can also be a helpful tool at keeping indoor spaces habitable.

Pro Tool also carries a number of air conditioning units to fit most indoor construction climate-control needs, including the Americool WPC-4000 which offers a powerful and effective cooling mechanism. This can be especially important in areas where heavy work is being done or surfaces get very hot to the touch.

The Pro Group is here to help you stay cool all summer

Preparing for rising temps is just good business. Climate control results in a safer construction site, but also a more efficient site – overheated workers have less energy and find it harder to concentrate. Keeping things cool is not only safer, but helps to keep projects on schedule.

For help finding the right climate control solutions for your team and your job, our skilled technicians are always on hand. Request a Quote or call us at 1-888-776-0007 to speak with a Pro Tool & Supply representative for more information on our stock of construction dehumidifiers, ventilators, portable construction air conditioners, and fans.

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