Every year, power line electrocution leads to numerous injuries and fatalities. Not to mention, each power line carries a high voltage, making it an even greater safety hazard. There must be a way to reduce the rate of injuries and deaths. Our Sigalarms protect against power line contact by warning those who are in close proximity. However, power lines aren’t the only safety hazard to keep in mind. In the lifting industry, environmental hazards play a huge role during the labor process.
Environmental Hazards
Working outdoors presents an array of factors that may lead to risk. In fact, cold weather and marine habitats present safety hazards when designing, manufacturing, and handling lifting equipment. Because freezing temperatures are prevalent in the United States and Canada, it is critical to be aware of the consequences. There’s more at risk than workers. The equipment itself presents additional hazards that can affect everything in its boundaries. How exactly do environmental hazards affect workers and their labor?
Freezing Weather
By all means, once the temperature decreases below freezing, equipment can become affected. Unlike other materials, there are some tools that cannot withstand such extreme temperatures. The majority of today’s equipment has been designed to battle through cold weather. However, systems found in lifting equipment contain components that become a hazard when in frigid temperatures. For example, the fluids, electronics, hydraulics, and engines.
Marine Habitats
Working in coastal areas is a hazard in itself. Additionally, using cranes to lift materials can be a challenge when near the shoreline. One common material on-site is steel, which can be greatly affected by water. For example, steel may experience corrosion, fatigue, or brittleness due to cold weather and water. For cranes, this can also be a serious matter. To determine the suitability of equipment, always contact the manufacturer to determine the properties of equipment being used in marine environments.
Effects of Weather
Weather is a major driving force and determinant of the energy or electricity consumption pattern. Recently, the U.S. East Coast has experienced arctic winds, leading to temperatures below zero. Mainly, frigid temperatures have a great effect on a material’s durability, strength, toughness, and brittleness. When completing projects, workers must be confident that equipment will carry out tasks effectively. Lifting equipment serves to take the place of manual labor in a safer and more efficient way. Without the proper function of materials, multiple issues may arise. In some cases, it may lead to injury or death.
Power Line Outage
In previous years, America has experienced severe power outages due to downed lines. In fact, during the winter of 2012-2013, the U.S. East Coast suffered the worst blackout of the decade. This is due to the extremity of the cold winter climate. Not to mention, a lack of preparation left the states in turmoil. With this information, we can begin to measure the effects of winter on power supply. The industry needs to figure out a way to balance the electrical demand during extreme weather. Sigalarm is on a mission for safety, and we must work together to prevent future mishaps.
Safety Above Weather
Since 1952, Sigalarm has had an influence in the world of safety with their proximity alarms. Before manufacturing warning systems, Sigalarm considers all factors, such as weather, to ensure safety. To that end, Sigalarm has wireless proximity alarms that can operate in almost all environments. Contact Sigalarm today to learn about their warning systems available and the new ones coming out!