The process of extending an industrial facility can lead to people being injured if certain mistakes are made. Here are two such mistakes.
Not wearing the appropriate footwear when operating a jackhammer trolley
Jackhammer trolleys are often used during the process of extending industrial facilities, as this type of equipment can enable labourers to break up large expanses of solid flooring (such as limestone, granite and concrete) in a short amount of time, without having to overexert themselves (as the wheels on the jackhammer trolley allow them to slide the equipment over the floor surface with only a minimal amount of physical effort).
However, if the person who will be operating this equipment does not put on steel-toed boots beforehand, an accident is very likely to occur.
There are two reasons why this footwear must be worn when using a jackhammer trolley. Firstly, due to the ease with which this wheeled equipment moves, it could quite easily slide onto the foot of the operator if they accidentally pull it towards them while it is switched on. If they are wearing normal shoes when this happens, the hammer component could go through their foot.
In this situation, wearing steel-toed boots could drastically reduce the severity of any foot injuries the operator sustains, as the steel layer will act as a robust barrier that will make it much harder for the hammer to penetrate the boot.
Secondly, when the equipment is pressed against a section of the floor and the materials from which the floor is made are broken apart, some of these broken pieces may be flung towards the operator's feet. If they are wearing shoes made from thin materials (like canvas, for example), these pieces could slice through the shoe material and lacerate their feet.
Conversely, if they are wearing steel-toed boots when a shard strikes their feet, the chances of their feet being injured will be much lower.
Storing building supplies close to busy work areas
Another mistake which can result in an accident during the extension process is storing building supplies close to the areas in the facility where there are lots of employees working.
The reason for this is as follows; if, for example, a pile of heavy tiles or structural timber are stacked precariously high and they are positioned close to a group of employees and some industrial equipment, there is a very good chance that these supplies may get knocked over.
If they fall onto an employee, that person may sustain serious injuries. Likewise, if they topple onto a hot piece of equipment like a laser cutting machine, a fire could break out and anyone near the flames could sustain serious burns.
As such, building supplies should be stored as far away from busy work areas as possible.
