If you have ever undertaken a large asphalt paving project, you know that paving busy parking lots or areas of high traffic can pose a dangerous situation to pedestrians, drivers, and workers if proper precautions are not imposed. Let’s face it, with heavy machinery and hot materials, job sites are filled with potential safety hazards that can lead to accidents, which is why extensive training and safety precautions are essential to keep your team and surrounding visitors safe. Our team at Encore Pavement, an expert asphalt paving company in Wichita, Kansas, details how you can keep your job site safe below!
Maintaining a Safe Job Site
Not only are asphalt paving companies responsible for ensuring the safety of crews and employees, but they are also responsible for ensuring the safety of all job site users, such as customers, clients, and tenants. Because companies are often opposed to closing their business for the duration of the paving process, our team works hard to develop an efficient phasing plan before the project begins. By instituting safety signs that guide the flow of traffic, designating alternate entrances and exits, and sectioning off all job sites with caution tape, cones, and barricades, we are able to ensure all pedestrians are distanced from exposure to sparks, fumes, or debris, while the business still remains functional for everyday use.
Ensuring Crew Member Safety
At Encore Pavement, our team takes pride in following all safety guidelines set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in addition to implementing practices specific to our company. When it comes to beginning a new project, our crew members are responsible for enforcing safety precautions, such as reminding all onlookers to avoid crowding around large machinery and clearing the work area before operating any heavy equipment. Through consistent safety training, crews should also be well versed in identifying potential overhead obstructions or underground utilities such as electrical lines, sewage, water, and gas that may pose safety issues for workers.
General Paving Safety Tips
The best way to avoid job site injuries is by educating and providing sufficient training to all crew members before beginning work on new paving projects. Our asphalt paving company in Wichita recommends reviewing the following basic safety tips before operating any heavy equipment to reinforce a safe working environment for both crews and pedestrians:
- Ensure all workers are dressed in proper attire for visibility, including wearing bright-colored clothing and vests with reflective tape.
- Enclose the working area with an adequate amount of barricades and caution tape to prevent traffic from entering the construction area.
- Have proper protection equipment on-site at all times to prevent injuries, such as eyeglasses, protective gloves, hard hats, earplugs, etc.
- Create specific entry and exit routes for heavy equipment to avoid confusion or accidents.
