Rainy days come and go. How do they affect construction work?
Rainy days affect everyone. They can make you feel sleepy, cozy, calm, or alert. It all depends on how bad the storm is. The same is true for construction workers. How does rain affect construction? What are the dangers to avoid, and what can you expect to happen?
How Rain Can Affect Construction
Low Visibility
Rain can create low visibility conditions, same as it would on the highway. Low visibility makes construction sites a little more hazardous. It is harder to see individual construction workers, construction site machines, and the site itself. Clear communication and care are key to remaining safe.
Flooding
If it is a torrential downpour, a construction site could be at risk of flooding. You can find multiple instances of flooded or washed-out construction sites on the Internet. Local rivers and collapsed structures could cause an entire construction area to flood, resulting in damaged foundations and buildings. It can even cost lives.
Unsound Concrete and Asphalt
Asphalt and concrete workers must use wisdom in deciding whether to continue paving or wait out the storm. A light mist might not affect the asphalt or concrete installation, but both of these materials require installation within a specific range of ambient conditions. If workers try to install these materials when it is raining, the rainwater could compromise their integrity, resulting in foundations, roads, etc., that crack and crumble before their time.
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion can be mild or catastrophic during heavy rainfall. It can wash away in noted patterns or cause an entire section of earth to collapse. If the contractor has already developed the land for construction, erosion is less likely to happen.
Safety First!
Safety is the priority for any construction site. Each construction company should practice best safety precautions and know how to act in adverse weather conditions. Misting rainfall will not do much to stop work from continuing, but it may be wise to hold off during a massive downpour.
The construction workers will protect the construction site according to standard practices and stall asphalt and concrete installations until the weather ensures they can install it correctly. While keeping on track with the project time-wise is important, so is making sure that the end result is of high quality.
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