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Fall 2015
NCRWA.COM7
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orking at night on pipe repairs is always more difficult than during
the day. Workers are usually tired having already worked a full day
and visibility is greatly reduced due to shadows, darkness, and poor
lighting at the work site. Throw in drivers who are also tired and
perhaps driving faster than usual due to reduced traffic, and you have
the makings of a high-risk situation. Your employees are your most
valuable asset, so every precaution should be taken to make sure they
come home safely every day.
Here are six things to ensure your night time workers are safe, and get
the job done effectively.
1. MOVE CAREFULLY AND DELIBERATELY ON THE WORK SITE
Many times, workers will want to get the job done quickly and skip
some steps. This is understandable, but it’s important to remind them
to slow down, and work more cautiously than they do during the day.
Even if they are very familiar with performing certain repairs, dark
areas and shadows can hinder their perception of risk.
Planning and communication become crucial during night time
operations. Before the job starts, supervisors should have a brief
meeting to ensure all team members understand what will take place
at the work site, what their role is, and where they will be located
throughout the night. Plan your work and work your plan!
Make sure everything is done with a focus on safety. This includes
wearing reflective clothing in accordance with the law, and using
a trench box or shoring to ensure that the trench doesn’t collapse
while workers are inside. There are many who never use a trench box
because it gets in the way of some repairs. At night, the use of trench
boxes and shoring is even more critical. Make trench boxes a normal
part of every excavation, and never put speed ahead of safety.
2. HAVE THE RIGHT REPAIR PRODUCTS ON HAND FOR EVERY POSSIBILITY
Always make sure that you have repair products on hand for every
situation. There is nothing worse than not having the right parts
during an emergency repair. Poor planning results in the job taking
longer to complete, delays in returning water service to normal, and
disgruntled customers.
There are a variety of repair couplings on the market that are quick
and easy to install, and are extremely useful for night conditions.
By Doug Riseden, Technical Support Manager, Krausz USA
Keeping Workers Safe
During Night-Time Repairs