Business News

Fri Jun 29

How Technology Can Help Improve Construction Site Safety

Written by: News Company

The construction industry has been one of the slowest to embrace many of the technology evolutions that have significantly changed other businesses and sectors. While traditional safety measures such as wearing helmets and using tool bags are still relevant, there are recent technology developments that are improving onsite safety too. These are some of the latest and future ways technology is being used to optimise construction site safety.

Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones as they’re commonly known) have literally taken off in many industries. In construction they are being used for a variety of purposes, making all such applications a lot safer. These range from site surveying, which is especially helpful on large construction plots, to inspecting structures and even for making promotional and safety videos. Site managers can use them to monitor workers and make sure they are all adhering to safety standards and to identify any areas that require extra work.

Communication

On any construction site, communication is key not just for ensuring a top job is done but also to avoid any safety issues arising. The increase in mobile phone usage has made this a lot better, more effective than using walkie talkies, while innovative communication technologies are being developed and implemented all the time. From headsets to wearable technology such as smart watches, it’s now easier than ever for construction workers to stay in contact with each other when working.

Virtual Reality Training

Virtual reality is adding an extra dimension to health and safety training on the construction site. Aimed mostly at those new to the industry but also good for experienced construction workers, VR training allows the chance of accidents to be reduced before going onto a site. Creating realistic simulations of construction sites enables workers to familiarise themselves with dangerous areas, situations and potential hazards without the risk of being harmed. This could be for anything from simple brick laying to operating large machinery.

Smart Sensors

Onsite sensors have been developed that can be placed across any construction site to measure a range of different factors and emit warnings when certain levels get too high. These can monitor everything from temperature and noise to dust particles, with the warnings designed to reduce the exposure of potentially dangerous elements to workers. When dangerous exposure levels are reached the warning should mean construction workers move to a different area until it’s safe enough to return. In other cases where excessive dust particles have been detected it may require the site to contact a professional in dust collector servicing Brisbane, to service the machine and rectify the issue.

These are just some of the fantastic ways technology is optimising construction site safety, with many more developments underway to reduce the number of accidents that occur in the industry across the world.

Thu Jun 28

Simple Survival Tips For Happy Long-Haul Drivers

Written by: News Company

Driving a truck for a living can be a great career if you love getting out on the open road and being in control of a seriously powerful vehicle. For many new truck drivers, however, this particular career path can take some getting used to. It does involve long-haul drives that can get tiring if you’re not prepared, and you may experience health difficulties if you don’t take good care of yourself. Use these tips to make sure you’re a happy, healthy truck driver for years to come.

Stay on top of your rest schedule.

The number one most important thing you’ll need to know to be a successful driver is that proper rest if absolutely essential. There’s no way you’ll want to be driving heavy haulage trucks for extended periods of time if you don’t have an alert mind and a body that’s had a good stretch of sleep. Your safety is crucial, and if you’re not well rested, both your personal safety and the safety of the other drivers on the road could be at risk. Make sure you pull over to rest whenever you feel tired, and organise a sleep schedule that works around your shifts.

Eat well.

Way too many people in this line of work fall into the bad habit of relying on fuel stop stations and fast food to get their nutrition while they’re on the road. It’s understandable- these foods are easy to obtain, cheap, and, let’s face it, tasty. But they won’t sustain you for long, and they’ll often end up leaving you with unhealthy excess weight and unwanted health problems further down the line. Keep yourself well by preparing proper nutritious meals ahead of time and bringing them with you on the road.

Bring entertainment.

The biggest challenge to your peace of mind while taking long road trips in your truck will be a lack of entertainment. While you may not be able to chat on the phone or scroll through social media, you can still keep your mind occupied without losing focus of the road while you drive. Download plenty of interesting podcasts on your phone, make sure you have a decent set of speakers and cables to hook your phone up, and bring along anything else that would keep your mind entertained while away from home.

Start an exercise routine.

This job involves a great deal of sitting, so if you want to keep your mood up and your body in shape throughout your career you’re going to need to make time for exercise while you’re not driving. Set up a regular routine and make a commitment to stick with it – even if you start small. Your muscles can start to get de-conditioned when you’re on regular long trips, so bring along dumbbells to give you some extra exercise on the job.

Invest in warmth.

Even on summer evenings, it can get pretty chilly when you pull over for the night. Investing in an electric blanket can be a great way to stay cosy while you sleep in your truck and can keep aches and pains at bay. If that seems a little much, just make sure you have plenty of blanket layers ready to keep you comfortable regardless of the temperature outside.