by Damien Therrio | Sep 5, 2019 | Construction Safety
Accessibility is becoming more and more of a topic of conversation lately, one of the main targets being the lack of accessibility for disabled people in everyday life. Few or no ramps, elevator malfunctions making whole buildings off-limits to certain people, and unfriendly sensory environments make whole swathes of society a bad place to be if you’re disabled. The only way to change this is by choice, so here are three arguments for a person who is in design to build more accessible structures.
Create a More Equal Society
For anyone with even a cursory commitment to leaving positive change behind in the world, striving for accessibility in design is one of the best ways construction and architecture jobs can do it. Accessibility features exist to help level the playing field for disabled people. You wouldn’t expect someone in a wheelchair to climb ten stories’ worth of stairs, yet no one really pays any mind to the requirements for elevators, ramps and similar accessibility structures. What’s worse, these features are often limited, forcing people to compete over resources, oftentimes with individuals who don’t actually need them and just enjoy the convenience, such as abled people using a limited number of elevators and forcing others out. Without actively thinking about these things during design, society will remain fundamentally unequal.
Source: What is the Difference Between Accessible, Usable, and Universal Design? | University of Washington
It’s the Law
Perhaps the most convincing argument for accessible design is that, in the simplest terms, it’s the law. Public structures are required to have certain accessibility features and considerations or face various consequences. Even so, many places neglect even this bare minimum. Take it as a personal challenge to surpass this extremely low bar if you have to, but work accessibility into your designs for the sake of not being hit with fines.
Source: Opening Doors to Everyone | ADA National Network
How to Make Commercial Designs More Accessible
Like with most things, the people who are actually affected by an issue usually have a pretty good idea or some suggestions on how to solve it. In that spirit, it’s crucial to consult with disabled people when you plan accessible structures. Consulting someone who is actually wheelchair-bound can be incredibly helpful because they can point out potential problems that you wouldn’t spot otherwise. Getting the opinions of individuals who use canes or crutches about building layout is also important. After all, it would be an incredible waste of time and resources to get to the construction stage only to realize that everything you’ve planned just isn’t feasible in reality.
Source: Does Your Workplace Meet Basic Wheelchair Accessibility Standards? 6 Questions to Ask | Instructure
Not being able to get somewhere just because you’re disabled can be a frustrating situation for many people. There are a lot of ways accessibility can be improved in society to make it a more friendly place. Consider these three points the next time you’re drafting or designing structures.
by Damien Therrio | Jun 11, 2019 | Real Estate Development
It is widely understood by anyone who operates a commercial property that in order for that property to be profitable, it must be kept up and well maintained. One of the most important areas for the maintenance of a commercial property is pest control. Pest control is an issue that virtually all commercial properties will face at some point as there are a number of different types of pests that can invade these spaces. Regardless of the fact that is difficult to keep all forms of pests out of a commercial property, there are some simple steps that can be taken in order to ensure that pests are generally kept in check at your commercial property.
Take Out the Trash on a Regular Basis
This might seem obvious, but the fact is that the garbage that collects in your commercial property can be one of the most enticing places for unwanted pests to show up. Ensuring that the trash is diligently taken out on a regular basis is a simple way to be proactive in helping to prevent the arrival of pests.
Keep Food Off the Floor
Making sure that any food that ends up on the floor of your commercial property is promptly cleaned up is a great way to be proactive in the area of pest management. Letting bits of food build up on the floor can be a sure way to attract the unwanted presence of ants. Different species of ants are attracted to different food, so the best solution is to always clean up quickly after any food has been consumed at your commercial property.
Clean All Potential Breeding Grounds for Pests
Taking out the trash and keeping the floor clean are two of the obvious areas to keep clean, but another part of pest management at your commercial property is to take care of cleaning any other areas that could attract pests. Keeping drains clean is an important part of pest management. Another important factor is to clean any areas where food is served.
Utilize a Quality Pest Control Service
Partnering with a reputable pest control service is another great way to be proactive about your pest management needs with your commercial property. Having a professional pest control service come by and do routine checks on your facility is a great way to catch any problems before they become big issues.
These steps are simple ways to keep pests to a minimum at your commercial property. It is all about being aware of the situations that can attract pests and avoiding those situations. Adding in a good commercial pest control service is also a great way to be proactive. Though extermination services can sometimes become inevitable, a little bit of pest control management effort can go a long way toward keeping your commercial space pest free.
Professional commercial construction and management are the keys to having a successful project. Talk with Pride One Construction today about your next commercial construction project!
by Damien Therrio | May 2, 2019 | Construction Safety
Cranes are the muscle in most industrial and construction environments. They are essential to lifting most heavy objects. To the people that operate and work around them, cranes are a normal piece of equipment for the workplace. For this reason, sometimes the dangers they pose are taken for granted. It is of extreme importance to follow all safety precautions when using cranes to prevent serious injury or death. This article will discuss some critical crane safety tips that will help you to avoid a catastrophic accident in your work area.
Do a Safety Inspection
It is very important to thoroughly inspect the crane before operating it. The inspection should be based on the manufacturer’s guidelines and any other criteria your workplace may have established. This may seem obvious, but some people assume that the equipment is ok because they were the last person to operate it. Also, sometimes to save time or stay on schedule a crane inspection may be skipped. If there is any question about the serviceability of the crane, it should not be operated. It is also important to ensure that the crane can handle the load that it will be lifting.
Be Aware of the Ground and What’s Underneath
Cranes are extremely heavy pieces of machinery that can easily damage the ground, piping, and utilities beneath it. This could create a dangerous situation, especially for power and gas lines. An ideal solution for this problem is the use of wooden mats. Woods such as oak or other hardwood are ideal for mats that can mitigate the impact a crane’s weight has on the ground below.
Get the Proper Operation Certifications
Cranes are complex pieces of machinery that require specialized training and certifications to operate. The operator must know the equipment very well to include emergency safety procedures. In addition, the operator should be well-versed in the use of crane hand signals.
In closing, a crane is a vital piece of machinery for many industries. It is responsible for lifting a wide variety of heavy loads. Because it is a normal piece of equipment in many workplaces, it can sometimes be taken for granted. It is absolutely critical to always make safety a priority when you are operating a crane. This can help prevent serious injury or death. It is also important to ensure all operators are qualified to operate the machinery.
If you’re planning an industrial, business, or other major construction project, let Pride One Construction help!
by Damien Therrio | Feb 4, 2019 | Real Estate Development
Investing in commercial property and commercial property construction is a great way to make a living that requires a whole lot of responsibility. When you purchase a property whether there is an existing structure or you’re going to have one built, you need to make sure everything is up to code for the tenants. Make sure you are paying close attention to these safety measures.
Earthquake Safety
Earthquakes are dangerous phenomena that are undetectable. The only way to prepare for one is to have your building designed in a way that offers ample protection against earthquakes. It needs to be built with strong materials on a sturdy foundation. There should also be strong furniture that people inside can protect themselves under in the event of an earthquake. Earthquake survival kits containing things like first aid supplies and water are also highly desirable. Though earthquakes typically last less than a minute, their intensity can do significant damage.
Fire Safety
It only takes a flame and something flammable for a fire to spread. With a good alarm and fire suppression system, you can stop fires before they can really do damage. In certain cases where traditional water-based sprinkler systems aren’t an effective means of fire suppression, a special hazard fire suppression system can be utilized to avoid dangerous, damaging, and impractical consequences. Environments such as data centers or healthcare facilities require specialized fire protection systems for the safety of assets and people within an area. People in your buildings should be educated on fire safety, including how to evacuate in a calm manner. For businesses, there should be a diagram detailing how occupants can make their way out of the building. There should be at least one full fire extinguisher that can be easily accessed, more if it’s an especially large building. In the case of a particularly large fire, people need to get out right away and not try to fight it.
Electrical Safety
Electricity is something that should not be taken for granted, both for how useful it is and how dangerous it can be. An electrician needs to do any needed repairs, regardless of how simple they seem. If you attempt to do it yourself, you may not meet the safety standards, which can just make the problem worse. Unprotected wires and water damage to electrical equipment are just a few things that can put people in danger. Since electrical arc flashes cause 2,000 injuries annually, which can include severe burns or even death, it’s vital that you take steps to ensure electrical safety on your property. When you hire an electrician, make sure that they are following all the rules of the Occupational Safety and Help Act (OSHA).
Advancements in technology and safety standards mean that people can live and work more comfortably than ever. You need to do your part as a building owner and make sure that everything in your buildings is how it should be. If you aren’t maintaining your properties or proactively developing it properly and protecting them against potential disasters, you might witness them falling apart.
For all your commercial construction needs, get in contact with Pride One Construction. We have years of experience and will manage every part of the construction so that you can focus on what’s important to you.
by Damien Therrio | Jan 21, 2019 | Construction Safety
When your worksite is dangerous, it subjects you to many different risks. Aside from the jeopardy in which your workers’ lives are placed, there may also be a legal risk for your business. Some of this danger can be averted if you properly label the things at your worksite that can potentially be harmful.
Pipes
Pipes are something that can cause major damage if handled the wrong way. Given that they carry water as well as other possibly hazardous substances, all it takes is one mistake and you could be facing a world of legal liability. Safety Blog News explains, “if a worker bursts a water pipe, that water could cause damage to areas beyond your worksite. In addition, depending on what is in the pipe, it can injure your workers too. Workers should know exactly what is in each pipe so they know where they need to exercise extra caution. This is done through marking the pipes and keeping a schematic of where the pipes are when they are hidden behind walls.”
Color Code Wires
Electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. Worksite fires are a leading cause of death and injury on the job. Therefore, it is a good idea to color code the electrical wires. According to Creative Safety Supply, “placing warning signs anywhere that someone might interact with electrical wires, especially high-voltage wires, is another good idea for improving overall safety. These signs can serve as a good reminder to those in the area that there are dangerous wires present. There are many signs that can be used depending on the specific situation.”
Chemicals
Chemicals have the capability to cause severe damage to your employees as well as surrounding areas. Workers need to know where chemicals may possibly be stored in order to avoid coming into contact with them or releasing them into the surrounding area. Cabinets that keep chemicals should have the proper labeling on the outside and access to all the required Hazmat information in easy access. Many keep this information on a binder that is attached to the outside of the cabinet with a cable. Beyond sparing yourself from liability, there are OSHA rules that require you to ensure that chemicals are clearly marked. According to Safety Info, “employees have a right to know what chemicals they are around when they are on the job. They should also be informed on the proper storage and usage of the chemicals they work around. If chemicals are not properly labeled, you can face fines from OSHA.”
Steep Drops
Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries on a worksite. Workers may not have the best visibility on the job site and that can lead to a dangerous fall. If there is an area where workers may not have the best footing or there is a drop that is near them, it should be clearly marked and labeled. In addition, oily surfaces should be marked to alert your workers. When possible, grating or other anti-slip flooring can help to avoid accidents. Finally, any kind of hole or opening that workers could fall into should be clearly labeled in order to let workers know of the opening.
Worksite safety should be a serious concern on any job. You can never take too many precautions in order to help keep your workers out of harm’s way. By clearly marking and labeling items and chemicals that can cause a potential danger, you take a sizable first step towards protecting your workers.
If you’re looking for construction management and work that you can rely on, then keep Pride One in mind. We have construction services for the commercial, hotel, health care, industrial, and apartment industry. Get in contact with us for your next big construction project!
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