Building Efficiently in Winter: Productivity, Cost, and More

In Building in Winter Part 1 (read that here) we discussed essential “watchouts” and pro tips from our Roadway team about working in the elements. The article covered helpful information for professionals working both inside and outside throughout the winter months.

Building infrastructure efficiently and effectively in extreme elements takes much more than “bundling up.” The team had so many helpful insights and tips that we decided to add Part 2, focused on productivity, costs, and a few follow up items to build on Part 1.

Staying Productive in the Elements

There’s no way for people or for essential equipment that help build vital infrastructure to avoid being in the elements. The trick is to think ahead and be prepared to stay as productive as possible and keep the projects moving efficiently and effectively.

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Winter Weather Productivity Tips and Watchouts:

Watch Out: Don’t Get Stuck – Infrastructure often requires heavy and/or pneumatic equipment, which can get temporarily frozen out of commission without proper care.

Pro Tips:

·? Heavy equipment and construction vehicles need to have defrosting abilities as well as clean windows.

· The tracks of heavy equipment must be cleaned and cleared of mud before shutting down for the night.

· If parking on ground that is not frozen, place blocks of wood under the tracks in case of overnight freezing, making it difficult if not impossible to move the machine.

·? Many accidents happen when attempting to thaw frozen ground using heat. Flammable materials should be kept far away.

· Pneumatic equipment is much colder to operate using your hands and they tend to freeze up without proper moisture separators. Gloves should always be worn to prevent frostbite.

·? Anti-freeze can also be used to prevent freezing of airlines. As with all chemicals, refer to the MSDS for proper use.

Watch Out: Frozen Shut – Smaller equipment like toolboxes, car doors, and padlocks, etc. are more difficult to access in freezing weather.

Pro Tips:

· Many construction materials used can be greatly affected by cold weather. PVC Pipe can shatter, creating a dangerous situation when handling or cutting. Gaskets and other flexible items may also be damaged easier during freezing conditions.

· Move essential items like de-icing spray, scrapers, a fire extinguisher, jumper cables, flashlights, chargers, and other emergency items somewhere you can’t get frozen/locked out.

· Don’t leave vehicles or electrical equipment off in the cold for too long – start them up periodically to avoid icing/freezing or battery drainage.

Watch Out: Material Matters – Properties of building materials and the earth around us change when it is cold, and you need to be ready for it.

Pro Tips:

· Make contingency plans for how to get where you need to go and stay safe during inclement weather, even when maintaining access to work areas is challenging.

· Be prepared for delays in earthwork projects, which can struggle during winter months due to wet conditions. This problem is heightened due to the lack of warm sunny days that allow materials to dry out for placement.

· Plan concrete and asphalt operations for more temperate times of year if possible. Cold temperatures greatly hinder concrete operations and make asphalt replacement projects nearly impossible.

· Don’t plan to do horizontal directional drilling in bodies of water in sub-freezing temperatures. If the body of water becomes frozen it makes this task near impossible due to the locating procedures.

Winter Weather Cost Efficiency Tips and Watchouts:

We always advocate for careful planning to help avoid unnecessary costs, but never at the expense of safety. The further out you can plan, the better prepared you are to schedule project elements around the worst weather and minimize the impacts.

Watch Out: Weather affects costs – Plan ahead and don't expect business as usual.

Pro Tips:

· Plan your projects carefully with consideration of the extremes. Materials like asphalt and concrete have specific temperature requirements for placement, and curing temperatures must be maintained, which also incurs additional costs.

· Aggregate that has been washed prior to leaving the Quarry can freeze inside the delivery vehicles making it difficult to remove, resulting in lost revenue (i.e. paying an invoice based on a weight ticket without receiving the full product). Work with your supply partners closely!

· Visibility can be reduced, and road conditions can change throughout the day so you must monitor conditions as the day goes on. A damp road can turn into an ice road before you know it. The best option is to clear the roadway of all personnel and equipment when the roadway is treacherous, which can add days to your schedule. Meticulous planning can help avoid the extra cost of a lost day due to the weather.

· It takes extra personnel and time to keep roadways safe, adding incremental costs in the winter. Plan ahead to extend proper traffic control beyond the flaggers to allow vehicles time to stop, and sweep the road regularly, adding sand or salt to improve traction and extend sight distance.

?Winter Weather Personal Protection Tips and Watchouts:

?Our best advice is always to use common sense and essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and to always, always look out for one another.

?Watch Out: Layer up and have backups – your safety is too important not to be prepared.

?Pro Tips:

· We can’t say it enough – wear proper clothing for the temperature. Dressing in layers to be able to add to or take off as the temperatures change throughout the day is key.

· It’s a good idea to have at least one change of clothes with you in case you get wet.

· Extra socks, boots, and gloves are a must.

Watch Out: Weather affects materials and costs - don't expect business as usual.

Pro Tips:

·? Warming up regularly helps, especially exposed skin, ears, hands, and feet to prevent frostbite.

· Coworkers should look out for each other. Watch for telltale signs of trouble, like discolored skin, shaking, or excessive fatigue.

· Many people do not consider dehydration in cold temperatures, but it is common, and just as dangerous as in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids.

· Act quickly instead of “just pushing through..” Time is of the essence when dealing with cold injuries.

Taking Care When Building in Winter Weather

There’s a lot you can do to plan, prepare, and take precautions during the cold winter months. With proper attention to detail, you can stay productive, avoid extra costs, and keep the team safe. We hope these two articles help with that. Contact us if you’d like to discuss this topic or a project in any season!

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Thanks to our pro team, Matt Campbell, Assistant Construction Inspection Manager and Safety Director, Nathan Lynch & Rob Robinson Water/Wastewater Construction Inspectors, who contributed to this article.

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