Vice President of Human Resources - Cemstone CompaniesWe are excited to announce that Greta Dzieciaszek has joined Cemstone as the Vice President of Human Resources. Greta joins the team with over 15 years of experience in leadership development, recruitment, talent...
A Cemstone Companies Safety Edition
We Demand Safety. We Demand Safety because we care about our employees and their families. Our work can be dangerous. We always need to think first, then act. We are accountable to keep safety at the forefront of everything we do. We Demand Safety because our customers and the public put their trust in us to deliver materials, create products and build projects in a way that always puts their health, wellbeing, and safety first. We Demand Safety because it is the right thing to do.
Because we Demand Safety, our goal is to share monthly tips and tricks on practices and products that can help keep people safe. This month, our focus is on cold weather concrete and various site conditions.
WINTER SAFETY
- Clear entryways from snow for clear visibility.
- Clear all snow and ice from walking and working surfaces.
- Avoid walking on snow covered insulated concrete blankets as they are extremely slippery.
- Wear cleated, sturdy and warm winter work boots or overshoes.
- Stress the importance of fall safety when icy conditions exist.
- Put down salt or sand to melt icy patches and improve traction.
- Cemstone Supply’s Traction Grit is highly recommended, offering natural relief from the icy conditions of winter. Unlike salt, our 100% natural quartzite pebbles give you immediate traction on icy walks, steps, and driveways without hastening the deterioration of concrete surfaces.
- Make sure icy areas that can’t be cleared are marked clearly.
- Slow down and take shorter steps, especially when carrying materials and tools to avoid slips.
- Remove icicles that have formed or block off areas to prevent workers from accidentally breaking them loose and creating falling object hazards.
- Be sure to take extra steps to ensure you are wearing all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) when winter weather conditions are present.
- Hard hats should be worn at all times to protect against falling objects like icicles and slips and falls on ice. Using liners in hard hats will help keep workers warm and prevent heat from escaping.
- Wear gloves with a rubber grip for icy conditions at all times, especially when climbing ladders, scaffolding, or getting onto construction equipment. Frostbite can occur immediately if touching extremely cold metal with bare hands.
- Wear waterproof boots with non-slip soles and extra socks to protect against the cold when wearing steel-toed boots since the metal acts as a cold sink.
- Treat goggles, safety glasses, and facemasks, they can be treated with anti-fog spray to prevent their vision from being obstructed in cold weather.
Adjust personal fall arrest systems are adjusted to properly fit over bulkier clothing and inspect them before each use to ensure straps aren’t frozen with ice.