Assessing the jobsite after a hurricane
Abstract
From 18-foot-high storm surges to record winds and widespread power outages, the Category 4 hurricane threatened both lives and property when it made landfall Wednesday. While residents find ways to take shelter and prepare for the worst in a storm like Ian, construction sites in Ian's path - already full of potential safety hazards - had to batten down the hatches in preparation for not only storm damage, but its lasting impact. "You have to be prepared to go back to a terrible-looking jobsite," Mike Langer, safety director for the Colombia, Maryland-based International Union of Elevator Constructors, told Construction Dive. The jobsite may remain safe, but storm damage can weaken safety precautions that an inspection can uncover, Langer said. Planning before the storm hits can also help with the cleanup and return to work. "What is your company's disaster response plan? Do you have one? How will you generate power? Are there agreements in place for response?" Langer said there's no set timeline, but knowing to expect the worst when the storm clears can help get work back to normal more quickly. "A comprehensive incident response plan and team is critical in responding to these types of events; those components need to be part of the project's DNA from day one." Nappo added that incident response and severe weather plans need to be a part of the process, because they can happen at any time.
