When working on outdoor projects, it’s important to consider ground protection. Landscape damaged by heavy equipment can be expensive to repair. Plus, uneven or muddy ground at job sites may cause project delays or stoppage. But what should you use to protect soft or sensitive ground conditions?
When shopping for wheel chocks, material construction is the most important factor to consider. Common wheel chock materials include wood, rubber, aluminum, steel and urethane. Each option has its benefits. Wood, rubber and aluminum are more economical solutions, while steel and urethane are more costly. Let’s break down each wheel chock material option.
Wheel chocks represent critical safety equipment in industrial, mining and aviation settings. Their proper and sustained use ensures that lives are protected, and such use is required by the DOT, NFPA, SAE and MSHA. There are multiple wheel chocks on the market, including those constructed of aluminum, wood, rubber and urethane. Federal guidelines do not generally specify the type of material that must be utilized for industrial applications; however, rubber and urethane are the two most commonly selected by safety managers.
One of the most important elements to consider when looking for a cable protector is the size of the cables or hoses that it is designed to house. Factors such as the maximum outside diameter of a cord or cable, or the number of channels a cable protector has are design specifications that will—in part—determine which cable protector is best suited to your needs.
The construction work sector is one of the most dangerous among all occupations. According to OSHA, around 20 percent—1,061—worker fatalities took place in the construction industry in 2019, representing one in five workers.
In 2020, the U.S. mining industry saw fatal accidents claim the lives of 29 workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Vehicle-related incidents cause a large portion of these accidents year after year and highlight the need for proper mining safety equipment, such as wheel chocks.
Whether it be a parking lot, pathway or office landscaping, problems with drainage and ground stabilization can create dire safety and integrity issues for your business.
According to the non-profit road-improvement group RoadEx, “Poor drainage maintenance can have a major effect on the lifetime of a pavement and annual paving costs. It can also affect traffic safety.”
And, as most business owners know, the appearance of your facility provides the first key impression to your customers. Nothing says “run-down and untrustworthy” more than a facility rife with pitting, standing pools of water and uneven ground, not to mention the potential safety and liability problems that arise.
