SAFETY TOOLBOX
Hazards Created by Excessively
Weather is a major factor in what tasks
Windy Weather
can or cannot be done on a particular
day. When excessive high winds are
going to be present, plan work
accordingly. Avoid certain tasks during
excessive high wind events as well as
implement extra safeguards to ensure
safety during the normal job tasks.
Hazards Created by the Wind
The exact scope of work will determine
what hazards high winds can create on
a worksite. Some hazards created by
high winds that are universal for many
construction jobs are:
• Strains/ sprains due to wind forcefully
pulling doors from operator’s hands.
• Struck-by incidents due to objects
being blown around.
• Slips, trips, falls due to workers
reacting to a falling hardhat or object
due to wind blowing these items from
them.
• Eye injuries due to small particles of
flying debris and dust.
• Dropped loads while completing lifts
with wind present.
• Objects falling from elevated surfaces. conditions.
• Dump truck tip-over.
How to be Prepared
In order to keep yourself and other
workers safe on a construction job site • Do not reach or react to dropping an
there are several things you can do to
prepare
• Monitor weather conditions
continuously. Avoid scheduling work
at elevations on days where excessive • Do not attempt to conduct lifting
high winds are forecasted
• Detailed clean up of site, including
removal of all surplus equipment and
materials,
• Scaffolds to be secured to a
permanent structure.
• Ensure partially built structures are
• Never stand in the line of fire-
properly secured and supported at all
whether that is below a lifted
times regardless of weather conditions
load, next to a truck dumping
and that walls are braced until the
material, or downwind from
building is complete. blowing dust
• All items that may become airborne are
• Wear eye protection to keep
to be lowered to ground level and stored
dust, debris, and other foreign
inside enclosed containers or buildings,
particles from blowing into the
which are tied down by an approved
eyes
method.
• Ensure that tools are packed
• Compressed gas cylinders to be
secured and have gauges removed and away safely and that roofing
sheets, cones, signage, and
stored
• All rubbish bins or skips to be covered other loose materials are safely
• Drainage systems to be inspected; secured. A high wind can pick
potential blockage up a piece of scrap metal and
• Secure cranes and mobile equipment. carry it as far out as the height
Hydraulic crane booms to be retracted from which it came!
and lowered, secured and parked with
outriggers extended. • Do not operate hoisting
• Mobile equipment to be parked with equipment in high winds without
handbrake on and in low gear approval from your supervisor.
• Temporary power boards to be switched Always use Tag lines when
off and secured hoisting loads especially with
large flat surfaces.
Best Practices to Eliminate Hazards • and the potential for injuries is
and Injuries Related to High Winds high.
• Always use extreme caution and
• Eliminate work tasks that if you feel like winds are too high
become dangerous in excessively windy to continue, bring it to your
supervisor's attention.
• Park trucks and equipment where the
wind is blowing against the opposite
side that the operator exits and enters.
object or losing a hardhat to the wind.
This can be very dangerous especially
when you are on an elevated surface.
operations during high wind events.
When wind conditions exceed the
manufacturer’s recommended limits, the
operator shall cease work, ensuring
everything is in a safe condition and
notify the rigging supervisor.
 SAFETY TOOLBOX
Hazards Created by Excessively
Windy Weather
Date:
Area Presenter
Topic:
Duration:
Attendees

# EMPLOYEE NAME ID # Trade/position SIGNATURE

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21