Marine contractors who intend to run any type of marine construction project must make safety one of their top priorities. Here are some safety tips that these contractors should keep in mind.
The contractor should provide their team with harnesses to stop them from falling off work platforms
Floating work platforms are often used when bridges, piers and other structures need to be built near or over a body of water. Whilst these platforms make it much easier for the labourers to do their work, they also increase the chances of these individuals ending up in the water.
If, for example, a labourer trips over an item or is thrown off balance by a gust of wind whilst they're on this type of platform, they could fall overboard very easily. This could put them at risk of things like cold water shock (which could then lead to them inhaling water and drowning), being bitten by sea creatures and sustaining fractures (as a result of hitting their body against the platform whilst falling into the water).
Fortunately, the chances of incidents like this occurring can be greatly reduced, if the contractor running the project provides their team with harnesses. When worn over the torso and connected to a stable part of the work platform, this piece of safety equipment can stop a person from falling overboard, even if they are exposed to strong winds or if they stumble and fall over.
Make sure workers know how to handle strings and bites from sea creatures
Even if the marine contractor who is running the project takes great care to minimise the risk of their team falling to the body of water that they are working near, there is still a chance that this could happen.
If the body of water in question is populated with sea creatures (such as jellyfish, octopuses, sharks and sea snakes), then it is important for the contractor to ensure that all of their team members know what to do if they or one of their co-workers is stung or bitten by one of these creatures.
For example, the stings inflicted by common varieties of jellyfish stings can often be neutralised by rinsing the affected body part with vinegar. If the labourers are made aware of this and are given access to vinegar, they should be able to help co-workers who sustain this type of sting by reducing the severity of the injury.