Recommendations for winter preparations in the TAMA 38 project and construction projects
Oct 11, 2017
Article by Asher Asban
The winter season is upon us and it is important that those "involved" in the TAMA 38 project - the tenants/clients as well as the contractors and their employees - are aware that the winter season may bring with it many risks that could harm the safety/health of the employees and the tenants.
Not only that, but the winter season brings with it many damages (dampness, flooding, etc.), not all of which, by the way, are covered by "standard" contractors' insurance, as I encounter in many cases every year, in tort claims.
Construction sites need to prepare for winter depending on the type of work, the processes, and the changing weather conditions.
It is important that both the work orderers, the tenants, and the contractors are aware of the increased winter risks and prepare accordingly in order to avoid injury and/or a lawsuit due to any safety incident, not to mention the criminal aspects of any negligence on the part of the contractor, which could have serious consequences for the tenants/work orderers as well.
Below are some tips for increasing worker safety during the cold, windy, and rainy days typical of winter.
I reiterate that this article is of equal importance to both the contractor's employee, the contractor himself, and the tenants/clients of the work, because maintaining proper work rules is important not only for the employee's well-being, but also for the security and safety of the tenants.
Everything written in this chapter that is relevant to a construction site is also meaningful to a resident of a TAMA 38 project who may find himself - just like the contractor's employee - in a dangerous situation of falling scaffolding, a collapsed crane, a collapsed excavation, a hidden pit, electrocution, and the like.
The recommendations given in this article are partial and do not cover everything required (due to brevity). If you would like further advice, you can call Asher Asban at 0545388671 or by email at ashertknp@bezeqint.net
Preparing the construction site for winter work
The roofs must be checked for tightness and cleaned of objects and materials placed on them, and loose roof panels must also be reinforced.
The gutters should be cleaned and made sure that water flows easily through them.
Metal and wooden structures such as portable buildings, pergolas, and awnings must be reinforced.
Work at height will be performed in accordance with weather conditions and in accordance with safety regulations for working at height.
All necessary measures must be taken to prevent objects from falling. Any object or installation that the wind could move or blow over must be firmly anchored. Tie down and reinforce molds, surfaces, and any other item that could be blown away by the wind.
Channeling and drainage must be ensured, so that there is no accumulation of water and puddles on the site, especially in uneven places. And ensure that workers stay away from water pools and puddles that may "attract" lightning.
Shelter for workers against rain and wind must be ensured, especially during the foundation phase.
If the construction site is in the foundation and septic tank digging, excavation, filling, and quarrying phase, you should ensure in advance that water pumping equipment is available. You should also take steps to carry out the required periodic inspections.
It is necessary to ensure that the stability of the stacked equipment (prefabricated elements) is not compromised, with an emphasis on withstanding strong winds.
Cranes must not be operated when the wind is blowing at a strength that could endanger the stability of the crane or the workers on it or near it - in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
The foreman must check every morning before the workers arrive to see if there have been any complaints about the foundations of the scaffolding and its stability, and about the linings of the pits and excavations - after a rainy or windy day.
The electrical system must be inspected for integrity and protection against moisture. The inspection will be performed by a licensed electrician with an appropriate license. While avoiding, as much as possible, working with electrical equipment, and inspecting the integrity and integrity of extension cords and circuit breaker systems, and performing an assessment of the risks of electrocution as a result of the rupture of electrical lines.
Special precautions for excavations.
In cases where the bottom of the excavation is unstable, the lining walls must be deepened below the bottom of the excavation to ensure the stability of the sides at the bottom.
In cases where there is a risk of water flowing into the excavation, diversion barriers or drainage channels should be installed to direct the flow away from or near the excavation area. Flow and/or accumulation of fluids near an excavation accelerates the process of erosion and soil erosion and increases the risk of collapse.
Dirt removed from an excavation, and any other equipment, must be carefully stacked/placed, at a minimum distance as required by regulations, from the edge of the excavation.
In practice, it is recommended to stay 1 meter away from the edge of the excavation, and the deeper the excavation, the further away you should be.
When people are working in an excavation or trench, it is mandatory to ensure effective means for safe exit from the trench.
Before beginning excavation, it is mandatory to locate any possible infrastructure that may be damaged during excavation (water, sewage, electricity, communications, etc.) and take appropriate measures to protect them and prevent damage to them.
In cases where the bottom of the excavation is unstable, the lining walls must be deepened below the bottom of the excavation to ensure the stability of the sides at the bottom.
In cases where there is a risk of water flowing into the excavation, diversion barriers or drainage channels should be installed to direct the flow away from or near the excavation area. Flow and/or accumulation of fluids near an excavation accelerates the process of erosion and soil erosion and increases the risk of collapse.
Dirt removed from an excavation, and any other equipment, must be carefully stacked/placed, at a minimum distance as required by regulations, from the edge of the excavation.
In practice, it is recommended to stay 1 meter away from the edge of the excavation, and the deeper the excavation, the further away you should be.
When people are working in an excavation or trench, it is mandatory to ensure effective means for safe exit from the trench.
Before beginning excavation, it is mandatory to locate any possible infrastructure that may be damaged during excavation (water, sewage, electricity, communications, etc.) and take appropriate measures to protect them and prevent damage to them.
Special precautions for excavations.
Excavation, trench protection, and embankments must be inspected on a daily basis by the site foreman.
It is mandatory to perform an inspection after rainfall and/or any change in circumstances and conditions that may increase the risks of collapse, landslides, or water accumulation. In cases where dangerous ground movement is detected (for example, cracks appear near the sides), it is mandatory to stop all work until the situation is corrected.
Every inspection and/or audit must be documented in the general ledger, including the findings, instructions, and recommendations of the inspector.
Drilling operations
Similar to excavation, drilling operations also require a "work permit" from the work manager.
Before beginning drilling work, it is mandatory to examine the risks of the work area, including infrastructure and possible risks above ground level at the height of the drilling machine and the movement area of the drilling equipment.
Workers and residents will maintain a safe distance from the drilling machines and all drilling equipment in motion.
The drilling crew must be in visual contact with the drilling machine operator at all times.
A drilling machine should not be left in operation without an employee manning it.
Any drilling equipment not in use during work must be stored and secured safely.
It is imperative to ensure that the drilling equipment operator has full and safe access to all operating and control means of the machine, and that his work position is stable and safe.
The drilling equipment will be inspected by a trained employee at the beginning of each shift; any defects must be repaired before using the equipment.Before starting work at a drilling site, all workers and residents near the intended drilling site must be informed and warned of the risks that the drilling operation creates at the site.
Do not leave a well without filling or appropriate protection to prevent it from falling, by means such as fencing or a stable cover that cannot be removed at random.
Health and safety reviews.
Excavations or trenches should not be left open for unnecessary periods of time after the work has been completed, even if the embankments are still in place.
Dismantling of bulkheads and protections should be done with extreme caution and in the reverse order of their assembly.
Deep excavations and trenches should be filled gradually while compacting.
In any case, upon completion of the fill, appropriate compaction and leveling of the soil must be ensured to ensure soil stability and prevent the accumulation of fluids in uncompacted soil, without leaving obstacles and safety hazards.
wind
When objects and belongings are not securely fastened in place, they can fly, injuring, destroying, and killing. Secure loose roof panels, tie down items stored outdoors, and close openings.
Rain and mud
Rainfall can pose a hazard to construction sites and cause flooding, flooding of buildings, dampness, damage to the electrical system, and more.
At every TAMA 38 site, the roofs must be checked for tightness and cleanliness.
Openings must be sealed, broken glass in windows replaced, and cracks and crevices filled with sealants to prevent rainwater from penetrating into protected spaces.
In rainy winters, it is difficult to maintain cleanliness because of the puddles of water and mud that accumulate everywhere.
Wet and muddy floors are the main cause of slips and falls.
At construction sites, the risks are even greater – the mud is heavy and the puddles hide deep pits.
Drainage ditches should be dug around each site to prevent flooding.
Completion of excavation and drilling work.
Low temperatures can cause health damage if you do not provide the right conditions for employees and instruct them on how to work properly in cold conditions.
Cold significantly reduces the worker's physical abilities, impairing finger movement, concentration, and alertness.
Working conditions of prolonged exposure to cold create feelings of discomfort and fatigue.
The cold also creates stressful situations and leads to increased stress at work.
Exposure to extreme cold for about 20 minutes is enough to cause safety consequences.
Working in cold conditions
Construction workers are exposed to dangers caused by low temperatures because they spend long periods of time outdoors in harsh climatic conditions.
Workers in enclosed spaces also suffer from the cold, when there is no adequate heating or when the spaces cannot be heated.
The type of work has an impact on behavior in the cold: in physical work, which involves the use of a lot of energy and the burning of calories, the body is able to tolerate cold more than in static positions. Workers in strenuous physical work in winter tend to remove the top layer of their clothing to allow the body to cool down and sweat to evaporate. It is important to ensure that during breaks, workers put on the coat or the same piece of clothing that they removed to prevent their bodies from cooling down too quickly and more than necessary.
If workers are wet, the insulating capacity of the clothing or shoe decreases by 95%. Under such conditions, a person's concentration is greatly reduced and their work efficiency drops sharply. Of course, due to the decrease in their concentration, they may make mistakes and thus be more vulnerable to injury in an accident.
Clothing should be adapted to the working conditions. The best way to protect yourself from the cold is to change your clothing gradually. It is advisable to dress in layers of thin clothing, adding another layer if necessary, and removing a layer when it is too hot.
Every space must have the possibility of constant ventilation. In a closed heated space, vapors of substances emitted in the various processes accumulate and create a lack of oxygen for breathing. Lack of oxygen leads to a feeling of drowsiness, headaches, lack of alertness and the accidents that follow.
cold
You should move, because when you move, the body produces heat that gives you a good feeling.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages before being in a cold place, or upon returning from cold conditions. Alcohol does cause blood vessels to dilate and a feeling of warmth – but it is momentary, and as a result, the body loses heat.
Ensure that employees are provided with a hot drink.
Smoking causes, among other harms, constriction of blood vessels and increases sensitivity to cold.
You should maintain a balanced diet and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Winter impacts on construction projects
Soil behavior in rain
There are two prominent types of soil in Israel: clay or sand. In some authorities, a land consultant is required to obtain a permit.
Clay under rain: Water does not seep in, remains on the surface, which becomes muddy. There is a risk of slipping. The lot can be prepared by digging and filling, in such a way that there are slopes in the desired direction, so that the water will drain and not remain in the lot.
Sand under rain: Water seeps through, the sand is wet but there is no danger of slipping.
Access routes to the site during the rainy season: Clay soil: There is a danger of vehicles sinking on the way to the lot and on the lot itself. A layer of aggregate (crushed and scraped aggregate) can be laid down to allow vehicle traffic on the road.
The road in question should be paved with a side slope, so that water can flow away from it.
Basement in the rain: Clay soil: It is recommended to dig before the rainy season. If the rainy season has entered, you should consider using more expensive equipment for the excavation, for example: a backhoe. At the bottom of the excavation, a side slope should be created so that the water will drain from the center of the excavation to the sides.
Foundation and columns of a building in winter
The pile cannot be cast during rain. When it rains, the amount of water in the concrete increases significantly, which reduces the strength of the concrete, so it may not meet the structural engineer's requirements.
Sand: Sandy soil – Foundation type: Plate, similar to pile foundation, the casting of the plate cannot be done during rain.
Casting of a mortar during the rainy season
It is important to remember that the executing contractor must work with the Gramushka and with the work plan that they received a permit from the GA authorities.
The climbing work of the concrete walls can be carried out under conditions of reasonable rainfall, the nets can be placed as required, but the walls themselves will not be cast during rain, which will weaken the strength of the concrete.
The GA authorities require concrete with a strength of 30. During rain, it is likely that the strength of the concrete will decrease and the test by the GA tester will not pass, which may require the demolition of the concrete.
Slopes on the roof
Water accumulation on the roof must be prevented, due to its great weight: Example: A 40 cm high water column causes a load of 400 kg per square meter. This load was not taken into account during planning and may result in subsidence and even destruction.
The required slopes must be created using B-Kel (foamed concrete) or "Mida" so that the water will drain to the sides and fall by gravity through the gutters.
In Israel, the amount of rainfall is not high, so in general, construction in the winter may delay the project slightly, but on most days, and even on days when it rains early in the day, it is possible to work on site.
Waterproofing contractor
It is recommended to use the services of a waterproofing contractor separate from the skeleton contractor. In this way, you can receive a professional warranty for several years.
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Asher Asban - is an expert in accidents and safety in the construction industry and a close advisor to our firm.
Those interested in further advice can call Asher Asban at 0545388671 or by email at ashertknp@bezeqint.net
Recommended behavior for construction workers in winter
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