5 Hazards Contractors in Georgia Should Remember During the Summer Months

Working as a contractor comes with so many benefits – being your own boss, deciding which clients and projects to take on and which ones to pass up, setting your own hours and when you’ll take time off, and more. But unless you plan to take off the entire summer (which might be tempting to save yourself from working in that sweltering heat), then you are going to be presented with certain challenges, risks, and hazards.

By being aware of the different hazards you’ll encounter while doing contracting work in the Georgia summers, you can take extra precaution to avoid getting hurt or incurring any damage to your project. Here is a list of some of the most common hazards you might encounter and how you can stay safe on the job this summer:

#1: Heat Illness

Illnesses brought on by the extreme Georgia heat in the summer months are common for outdoor workers. These might include anything from cramps, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or fatigue. This can make working in hot, outdoor conditions not only uncomfortable and unpleasant, but dangerous.

To keep yourself or your workers safe from heat-induced illnesses, you can implement a number of measures. One includes ensuring that you and your workers get adequate breaks from working and the heat, have access to plenty of water, postpone nonessential tasks until cooler weather, provide shaded areas for rest, and start work earlier in the day before the heat reaches its max. Schedule breaks around when the day is hottest, so you and your workers can avoid the worst of the heat.

#2: Insects and Other Dangerous Critters

Everyone loves the summertime – including disease-carrying insects like mosquitos and ticks. These bugs can transfer dangerous illnesses like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease – not to mention the unpleasant scratching that can accompany even the more harmless bites.

Not only that, but other dangerous wildlife creatures also come out to play during the summer months. Outdoor workers like contractors are advised to beware of venomous animals like snakes and spiders while completing projects outdoors.

#3: Harmful Plants

Harmful plants, such as poison ivy, oak, and sumac, are especially dangerous in the summer. If your contracting work involves being near any area with a lot of plants, keep an eye out for these fiends. If they come into contact with the skin of you or your workers, they can cause itchy allergic reactions.

#4: Natural Disasters

Summertime means barbecues and pool parties a lot of the time – but it can also mean natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and storms. All these things can present hazards to those who work outside doing projects like contracting work.

It’s important to be aware of these types of weather and natural disasters when taking on contracting work – this is true all year round, but especially during the summer months here in Georgia. If things like this are in the area where you are working, steer your projects clear of these situations and stay out of the path of danger. Secure what you are working on before any natural disasters arrive and then wait until the storm passes to continue your project.

In addition, after a disaster has passed, approach any outdoor work with caution. Flooding, stray debris, property damage, and more could pose a threat if you aren’t cautious of your surroundings. Be careful and aware of what is around you on any work site, but especially when you’re initially coming to a work site after a natural disaster has occurred.

#5: Lack of Knowledge and Training

Safety on a worksite, more often than not, comes down to knowing the proper way to do things. With the proper training that comes with the learning and testing involved in earning a contractor’s license, contractors can pick up a lot about how to conduct themselves on a worksite and complete their projects efficiently without sustaining injury. Not to mention, earning a contractor’s license in Georgia will help you to show your clients that you are the right expert for the job! Here at Contractors Institute, we’re committed to bringing you the need-to-know information to work safely as a contractor and get your contracting license.

The Verdict

There’s nothing like being a contractor. You get what you put into it and can take on extra projects or give yourself a vacation as you please. The financial and scheduling freedom that comes with this type of career path is unparalleled – but even more important than these benefits is your safety.

This is why it is crucial to be aware of the hazards the job poses, so you can keep yourself safe at all times while completing your contracting jobs. Keep your work site safe and secure when working as a contractor in Georgia so you can reap all the benefits that come with this rewarding career path!