Statistically speaking, long hot summers like the one we just endured have just as often been followed by mild winters as by cold ones. But, if you’re a believer in predictions set by The Farmers’ Almanac, you’d best be prepared this winter to break out the long johns and fire up the snow blowers. In other words, game on.
Winter officially starts on December 21, 2016 with some wintery mix weather, but won’t really hit its stride until February. That’s when predictions call for frigid temperatures (think 40 below for northern-tier states) with above-normal snow and wet weather across Western States.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
As anyone in the industry knows, time is money. Projects that don’t move forward on schedule cost companies in terms of lost time and damaged reputations and relationships, due to not delivering on time.
Harsh weather conditions may come at a time when the industry as a whole is experiencing a growth plateau. Per Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors of America chief economist in an October 2016 press release, “While demand for construction remains robust, it is no longer growing like it was earlier this year.
That makes it even more crucial to move projects forward during winter months.
Still, work crew and construction-site safety must always remain a priority. Which is where Strong Man comes in.
THINK LIKE A BOY SCOUT
What can you do to stay prepared?
- Plan Ahead. Having cold-weather contingency plans are a must. Better to be prepared and not have to use the plan versus being caught off guard and scrambling at the last minute to keep a project on schedule.
- Identify appropriate enclosures. Do you need scaffold enclosures, wind barriers, vision barriers, drainage tarps? How many and for what projects? Start budgeting now.
- Talk to your distributor. You may not want to order “just-in-case” enclosures, but talking to your distributor and giving them a heads up on your projects and what you may need can help them be prepared to jump into action on your behalf when you do place the call for cold-weather tarps. Your distributor may also be able to make recommendations on which tarps and enclosures would best serve you on a particular site.
- Make sure all winter-weather enclosures meet OSHA specifications. In addition, you want tarps that are wind-resistant and flexible, even in cold weather when wind bursts are at their worst.
“Time is money in construction,” notes Jay Kinder, president of Strong Man. “Our customers count on us to keep them working no matter what Mother Nature throws our way.”
Strong Man Safety Products Corp. is a manufacturer of heavy-duty, all-seasons nettings and tarps for debris and weather enclosures. Since 1974, our products have been widely used by construction companies, subcontractors and utility companies on jobsites, demolition sites, storage areas and material yards. Questions? Contact Strong Man today!