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On-site electrical equipment is at the receiving end of a lot of abuse, whether that is from the harsh environments which it has to endure or simply from misuse by site personnel. However, the fact remains that it has to stand up to the elements in order to eliminate delays which can have a costly effect on any project.
As well as delays on the job due to lack of power, it is essential that you consider the safety of the personnel on site, and any power distribution system needs to have adequate protection built in at every opportunity.
Site safety
With health and safety at the forefront of everyone's agenda it is imperative that any building site is safe. This may seem easier than it sounds, particular when you consider the number of contractors which are on-site at any one time. But careful planning in advance of the project will ensure that the busiest site can also be the safest.
As well as the obvious concerns where heavy machinery is involved, there are the additional problems of electrical safety, meeting the necessary requirements for outdoor use and the responsibility of ensuring that your site is safe.
There have been a number of well documented cases where employers have received large fines as a result of an accident on a construction site. This, like many accidents in the workplace, can be avoided through the correct use of outdoor power systems and cable protection.
Getting power
There are a number of things which you need to consider in order to ensure a fully functioning on-site power system. Starting with the mains distribution assemblies, these should be designed for quick, easy installation and a high level of recovery. The most important point to consider here is that they should be built to last and weatherproof enclosures built to withstand extremely harsh environments are essential.
Portable socket outlets are another area where you need to opt for quality, ensuring that you have the right number of sockets protected by miniature circuit breakers. The main consideration here has to be the type of machinery which is going to be plugged into the system and thus the protection which needs to be built in.
Lighting
Lighting is another important consideration on a construction site and as the nights draw in for the winter, the last thing you want is for your contractors to abandon the site when it gets dark. With tight deadlines to meet, IP rated portable site floodlighting is an essential item.
Fitted with wire guards and a tempered glass front as standard, floodlights, like everything else, need to be able to withstand the rigours of the average construction site. Tripod lighting is also worth considering and its ability to be used in the internal and external environment means that it will be money well spent.
Cable Management
One of the main areas of abuse on any construction site is the cabling which is open to the harsh environments and constantly at risk from vehicles and heavy machinery. Damage to cabling is one of the main causes of severe delays and therefore providing adequate protection will cut any delays to a minimum.
Our experience in the construction industry has recently led to the introduction of our Linebacker range of Cable & Hose Protection Systems which protect valuable electrical cables and hose lines, up to 82.6mm (3.25 in.) in diameter, from damage and abuse. At the same time they also ensure a method of safe passage for vehicles and pedestrian traffic in public, commercial and industrial applications.
Constructed from Polyurethane, one of the main benefits of this range is the high load bearing capacity which protects the cables from heavy machinery and vehicles and the general wear and tear which is commonplace on any construction site. The range also provides insulation for electrical cables against human contact thus meeting and complying with the necessary safety regulations and requirements.
Another important consideration is the need for on-site equipment to be flexible, a fact which we took into account during the development stages of the Linebacker range. This resulted in a sturdy but lightweight product which is easy to transport, set up, break down and store and in addition its high visibility means that it doesn't pose any additional danger on-site through tripping.
Getting it right
This may all sound like basic common sense but you would be amazed at the number of people who get it wrong. Despite the regulations which are in place to protect construction workers on-site, the fact remains that not everyone is as careful as they could be, cutting corners to save costs.
Site safety is a very important issue for this industry and in this respect we are not just talking about outdoor construction sites. Refurbishment projects can prove to be just as dangerous with numerous contractors on-site who all need access to power and lighting in order to meet the completion deadline.
If we look at the cost issues alone, the cost to a project of being without electricity for just one day is enormous but if we add to that the cost of safety to the personnel on site you can see why it doesn't make sense to take short cuts.
Every industry has a duty to protect their employees and this is particularly important when working in a dangerous environment. By using the right system from the start and ensuring that the power supply will not only stand up to the harsh environments of a construction site, but that it is also protected in the appropriate manner, you stand a far better chance of completing the job on time and to budget.
It's very easy to cut corners but ultimately you need to ask yourself what is more important - saving a few pounds but putting your site at risk of accident or loss of power, or using the right equipment and ensuring that your site is both productive and safe. I think the answer is obvious.
