Today’s American construction industry is a big one, and its market value has recently topped one trillion dollars. There’s good reason why so many construction crews (big and small) are found across the United States: they are responsible for building today’s houses, shopping malls, schools, libraries, banks, and more. During a construction project, a number of crews will collaborate to complete the building, and they will pool their resources, skills, and tools to get the job done. Construction crews will also have their own specialized lawyers, who may look over and approve paperwork for invoices, workers’ compensation, equipment use, and more. After all, many hazards will be present on a construction site, and many hazards may harm a worker or damage a delicate surface (property damage). An injured worker may make use of their team’s construction attorney, or they may reach out to a personal injury lawyer. But if crews follow city and state codes and regulations for safety and fire hazards, fewer incidents may take place. Equipment such as temporary floor covering or paper, temporary stair protection, door frame protectors, and more may be used, along with respirators and safety goggles. When is it time for a temporary stair protection mat or stucco tape?

Common Workplace Hazards

The construction industry is known for many workplace hazard, some of which harm workers, others of which damage property. Workers may suffer blunt trauma, for example, if a construction vehicle hits them or if they get their limbs trapped in a machine or under a heavy item. Workers may even slip and fall, which is more serious than it sounds. On a construction site, a worker may lose their footing on the fourth or fifth floor and fall onto sheer concrete or a pile of bricks, which may cause serious injury or even prove fatal. Workers might also be exposed to open flames, such as from blow torches.

Meanwhile, workers must content with airborne hazards. Harmful fumes may be in the air from motor exhaust, for example, or if open containers of paint thinner or primer are open indoors. Spray foam insulation gives off a lot of harmful chemicals while being sprayed, and workers may suffer serious lung injury from that. What is more, airborne particles such as plaster dust may be inhaled and cause lung disease. Airborne silicate particles, meanwhile, may be generated when stone, brick, or concrete is crushed or sawed, and such particles are harmful to the lungs. Construction is known for its high rate of lung-based injuries.

Property damage won’t threaten lives, but it may prove costly and a hassle to fix. Tiles, wooden floors, brass, wood, and glass may all get dust or liquids on them, which may at the very least cost time to clean up. In worse cases, this may contaminate the surface and call for more specialized cleaning or even replacing the materials entirely. Tiles or wood may be ruined if glue or paint thinner are spilled on them, and carpets may soak up a lot of dust and other particles. A dirty carpet may emit a lot of VOCs even years after its exposure. For all this and more, wood protectors, temporary stair protection, and more may be used.

Workplace Safety

For every hazard, there is a means of preventing it. Workers may wear safety goggles, for example, to keep airborne particles and chemicals from their eyes, and they may wear surgical masks while working near silicate particles or plaster dust. Or, if airborne fumes are present, the worker may use a respirator with its own air supply, and protect both their nose and mouth. Working indoors with spray foam may call for a full body protective suit so that no air reaches the worker’s body.

Meanwhile, temporary stair protection may be used to protect a staircase’s wooden and carpet surfaces (if any) during work, because paint may spill onto carpet and ruin it. Or, dust may settle into the carpet or paint primer or glue may damage the wooden surfaces. Protection may also be used for carpets, wooden window frames, panes of glass, and metal surfaces such as elevator control panels. Stucco tape may protect some surfaces on a small, precise scale, then be easily removed later.