Staying Safe in the Summer Heat: Essential Tips for Construction Workers on the Job Site

As the sun blazes and temperatures rise, construction workers face unique challenges on the job site during the summer season. Working in hot conditions can be physically demanding and even dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. In this blog post, we will review a list of essential safety tips to help them beat the summer heat and stay safe on the job site.

Stay Hydrated, Always

Dehydration is a significant risk during hot weather, especially when engaging in strenuous physical activity. Make it a habit to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily and avoid excessive consumption of caffeinated or sugary beverages, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Take Regular Breaks

Listen to your body and take frequent breaks in shaded or cool areas. Use these moments to rehydrate and allow your body to recover from the heat. Overexertion can lead to heat-related illnesses, so pacing yourself and taking breaks is vital to your well-being.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Choose lightweight, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing that provides ample ventilation. Light-colored clothing can help reflect the sun’s rays and keep you cooler. Don’t forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun.

Sunscreen is a Must

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before starting your workday. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if you are sweating heavily. Sunburn not only causes discomfort but also increases the risk of skin cancer in the long term.

Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illnesses

Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat exhaustion signs may include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache, while heatstroke symptoms can be more severe, such as confusion, loss of consciousness, and a high body temperature. If you or a coworker experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Work During Cooler Hours

Whenever possible, schedule the most physically demanding tasks during the cooler hours of the day, typically early morning, or late afternoon. Minimizing exposure to peak temperatures can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Create Shade on the Job Site

Set up temporary shade structures or use existing ones to provide a designated cooling-off area for breaks. Working in shaded spaces can help lower body temperature and reduce the risk of overheating.

Use Cooling Products

Consider using cooling towels, bandanas, or vests designed to keep you cool in hot weather. These items can be soaked in water and worn to provide relief from the heat during your workday.

Buddy System, Watching Out for Each Other

Support your coworkers by implementing a buddy system. Regularly check on each other’s well-being and watch out for any signs of heat-related distress. Immediate assistance can be crucial in preventing serious complications.

By prioritizing your safety and following these summer tips, you can ensure a productive and injury-free work environment. Remember, staying hydrated, taking breaks, and being aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses are essential practices to beat the summer heat. With these precautions in mind, make this summer safe and successful on the job site!

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Digging Deep: Understanding the Essential Requirements for Construction Excavation

Can You Dig It? Yes, but follow these safe digging tips.

April is National Safe Digging Month, a month-long initiative aimed at promoting safe digging practices and preventing damage to underground utilities. Every year, thousands of people unintentionally damage underground pipelines, cables, and wires by digging without knowing the location of these utilities. While the consequences of such damage can range from minor inconveniences to life-threatening accidents, they can all be prevented by following some basic safety guidelines. In this blog post, we will discuss the risks associated with improper excavation, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, your property, and the environment. Read on and learn how to dig safely and responsibly.

Conduct a Site Survey

As a contractor, it is your responsibility to carry out dig site surveys and identify any underground utility lines before proceeding with digging. Before beginning any kind of digging project it’s important to call 811 or the local utility companies to request a free utility locate. This will help to avoid potential delays in the project due to unknowingly cutting underground pipelines or cables. Accidental strikes are often expensive and can create hazardous conditions, so it is best practice to always call ahead and make sure no lines exist near the dig site. Failure to do so can result in serious consequences, such as service disruptions, injuries, or even lawsuits. Therefore, it is crucial to follow best practices, including using proper excavation techniques, maintaining clear communication with utility providers, and adopting safety measures such as shoring or backfilling.

Obtain an Excavation Permit

Determine what type of excavation permit you need, which varies depending on the size and scope of your project. Review the permit application and ensure you have all necessary documentation and information, including site plans and safety measures. This documentation and information not only includes site plans and safety measures, but also any environmental permits that may be required for the site. Failure to have the necessary documentation and information can result in costly delays or fines, which is why it’s important to ensure everything is in order before beginning any construction work. Similarly, it is important to submit your permit application to the appropriate government agency and follow up on its status in order to avoid any delays and potential damage in your project timeline. Taking a proactive approach towards digging can prevent unnecessary delays and costly repairs in the future.

Clearly Mark the Dig Site

Marking the perimeter of the dig site with caution tape is essential to establish a safe zone and ensure the safety of workers and pedestrians in the area. Similarly, it is important to provide clear warning signage around the dig site, letting people know that a contractor is working in the area and that they should keep away, particularly children and animals. This will ensure that everyone remains safe, as well as protecting the contractor from any liability issues.

Choose Digging Tools Based on the Soil Type

Consider the type of soil you’ll be working with before choosing your digging tool. This is especially important for contractors who will be digging trenches for laying foundations or installing drainage systems. By understanding the nature of the soil, you will be able to determine the appropriate digging tool to use. Not only will this ensure a smoother process, but it will also help to avoid delays that could arise due to damage to tools or equipment.

Follow Safety Protocols

To avoid delays, it’s essential to follow safety protocols and regulations set by regulatory bodies. This includes wearing personal protective equipment such as hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and steel-toed boots, identifying potential safety hazards before digging, and ensuring that equipment is in good working condition before use. Safe working conditions translate to productive workers who will give their best, thereby producing quality work within a shorter time span, on budget and without delays.

Stay Up To Date on Excavation Methods

Adequate training is essential for contractors tasked with digging activities. The excavation industry is an ever-changing environment in which contractors must keep pace with new technology, techniques, and safety regulations in order to stay effective while reducing risk. Contractors must continually update their knowledge of the latest excavation methods and safety protocols to ensure compliance with applicable codes. Regular training and education is essential for a successful contractor digging process and guarantees that contractors are equipped with the necessary skills to safely complete any excavation-related task they may be assigned.

By following safe digging practices, you can ensure that your digging project is completed safely and efficiently, preventing damage to underground infrastructure like gas lines, water mains, or power cables, and avoiding injury. For more construction safety information, check out our spring construction safety tips.

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Happy New Year!

We’re officially 4 days into 2021. While it may still feel like the same winter we had only a week ago, we’ve entered into a new month, a new year, and a new opportunity to rebound from the impact 2020 had on all of us. If you haven’t already, now is the time to begin looking forward and letting the hardships of last year serve only as a reminder of what we can overcome.

Economic forecasts predict improvements in non-farm payroll employment of approximately 600,000 new jobs each month. By the fourth quarter of the year, household employment is projected to recover to 148 million. There are industries that are expected to continue to recover more slowly, such as food service and hospitality, but others including delivery and warehouses and those tied to e-commerce will continue to grow at a fast pace to meet the continuously increasing demand of online shopping and contactless purchasing. Additionally, if the vaccines work, we can expect the labor market to heal rapidly this year.

We all have optimistic hopes that this year will be vastly different from last. Some of the factors are well outside of our control, but plenty are still within. Go into the year with positivity and a spirit of accomplishment and tenacity and let’s all see a productive and economically strong 2021. Contact us at sales@peoplelinkgroup.com for all of your 2021 workforce needs!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

2021, the dream we have all been waiting for is now in sight! Christmas is only a few days away. The approach of the 2020 holiday season has young and old equally excited for a new year to begin.

While COVID is unfortunately still here, we have many gifts for which we can be thankful. In a remarkably short time, the medical community has delivered a vaccine to the general public. We are seeing more signs of stability in the economy with the stock market rallying sharply in recent weeks. Unemployment continues to wane and many companies are reopening. The US Labor Force Participation Rate has significant room for improvement, but we are still seeing progress. According to a recent American Staffing Association article, 80% of job candidates, both active and passive, foresee working for a new company in the next 12 months even despite the economic uncertainty created by the pandemic. In addition to this, 1 in 3 candidates are more open to working as a temporary employee through a staffing agency. Undoubtedly fueled by the astronomically high unemployment rates we’ve seen this year, 66% of respondents for the article said that looking for a job is more stressful than planning a wedding. 59% said it was more stressful than the birth of a child and 25% and 24% said it was more stressful than the death of a loved one or financial concerns related to COVID-19, respectively.

Confusion and concern abound amongst unemployed individuals and those considering changing employers. Even the most talented candidates may burn out before finding the next career opportunity due to the stress of job hunting. As a respected staffing provider, Peoplelink provides candidates with guidance navigating the challenging application process. We can help you tap into a skilled candidate pool with which you may not otherwise connect. As professionals in the staffing industry for over 30 years, our tried-and-true methodology for screening candidates gives you access to the highest quality talent. Partner with us to achieve your optimal workforce. Call us at 817-684-8022 or submit your information through our website.

Creating and Onboarding a Remote Workforce

Why is it important?

If 2020 has taught us anything in the staffing world, it’s that we must find a new way of doing business. This includes getting creative in how we partner with our clients and engage with our talent. The global pandemic became “real” for us all in March of 2020. Organizations that were able to pivot to a remote workforce quickly and effectively were able to stay ahead of the current and set themselves up for a period of sustained growth.

One of the unintended benefits that has come from this terrible pandemic has been an awareness that new ways of delivering business results, no matter the industry, is essential. Organizations that were previously hesitant to entertain a remote workforce now realize it is a viable alternative to remain competitive in the race for talent. According to Stanford Research, an incredible 42% of the U.S. labor force was working from home full-time by June. Even by August, the fraction of entirely home-based work, despite a slight decline relative to earlier in the pandemic, remained very high at 20.3%, according to the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank.

What are potential wins for organizations that are able to make the right pivot? When physical geography is de-emphasized due to remote work capability, there is access to a more diverse workforce in greater supply. Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, touts that an estimated 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021. In keeping up with this plunge, people become the peak differentiator of every industry. Greater diversity creates ideas that spur growth. Teams are more effectively engaged. Expensive, unwanted turnover rates drop significantly. Your employees and your business collectively experience a win/win.

Having proven, repeatable onboarding steps is essential for riding the long-term wave of a successful remote work arrangement. Throughout the recruiting process, candidates form impressions quickly that are crucial for a long-term employment partnership.

What are the crucial steps to successfully onboard a new candidate?

1) Ensure that all necessary equipment is delivered early. Too often, candidates are stressed the week before starting a new position because they are unsure how to perform their job duties. An important unknown to remove is the physical equipment necessary. Make sure that new resources have the necessary setup at home. IT equipment should be delivered with enough time to test access to all applications that the candidate needs to perform their duties. The Friday before the start date is too late.

Gather requirements with the candidate on what they need to be successful. Would they benefit from a second monitor? Is their email set up correctly? Do they have access to all the appropriate applications? Are their security protocols configured? Do they know who to turn to if they have issues? What types of communication are used to interact with leadership and teammates?

This is one of the greatest areas of uncertainty that can provide a negative initial impression for a candidate. On the bright side, it is also one that can be easily eliminated through a well-designed, repeatable process that ensures everyone is operating on the same wavelength.

2) Communication of the organization’s mission, vision, and values during the recruitment process. One of the keys to a successful remote engagement is to recruit to an organization’s mission, vision, and values. Inherently, leaders are placing an increased trust in remote workers due to lack of direct oversight. Identifying candidates that fit from a values perspective is crucial. In addition, a candidate must be propelled by the mission and vision of an organization and be able to identify with that “why” factor!

3) A clearly defined, pre-communicated schedule for the first week. This is another often over-looked aspect of onboarding. Everyone that starts a new job is dealing with some level of anxiety, much of which is caused by the unknown of what they will be doing while they initially settle in. A simple step to take during the onboarding process is to set up a time to go over the first week in detail. Lay out a calendar that can be given to the candidate so they can prepare their thoughts ahead of time. Knowing what the first week looks like from a schedule perspective eliminates much of the unknown and reduces the ramp up period, ultimately saving both time and money!

4) 30-60-90 day expectations laid out during the onboarding process. As mentioned in the previous point, every candidate has anxiety stepping into a new role. Too often, we forget what that feels like. Another key action to minimize this anxiety is to provide absolute clarity in the expectations of the candidate. Successful leaders go so far as to spell out these expectations in offer letters! If a new employee can step into a role knowing what is expected of them, they can plan and be set up to succeed. Unclear expectations lead to disengaged employees and some of that expensive, unwanted turnover.

5) Build trust. This point cannot be understated. Trust is at the crest of building a high-functioning team. There are several tactics for building a trusting culture:

a. Introduce the new employee to the team ASAP. Don’t make the initial intro about work. Make this intro about getting to know each other on a personal level by having every individual on the team share something about themselves. This tactic is not a box to be checked once – it must be repeated consistently. Continue to start all team meetings with a “get to know you” exercise. Make some fun and light-hearted. Make some serious to understand the why behind each individual.
b. Provide collaboration opportunities. Actively schedule opportunities for the new employee to collaborate with different members of the team. One of the quickest ways to shorten the ramp up period and establish long-term engagement is to provide opportunities to accomplish a task together with a teammate. Emotional connections are established through joint success that will keep the workplace current flowing strong.
c. Focus on the culture. The first step here is to be aware of what the impression is of your current culture. Next, envision what you want your ideal culture to look like and onboard with those goals in mind. Communicate the vision for that culture consistently and be sure to demonstrate those values in all interactions.
d. Engagement is critical. A remote candidate is at an increased risk of disengagement when they are isolated and new to the team. Go above and beyond to engage with the new resource and be sure to include them in all appropriate meetings. Use video for the majority of interactions – with the camera on! Set that expectation immediately so that no one shies away.

Remember that people are typically our most valuable resource and turnover is costly in every aspect. Navigating the ocean of remote onboarding is difficult, but having a repeatable process focused on the areas above can ensure that no one gets caught in the undertow. Working together, we can use these strategies to differentiate an organization in an ever flowing and very competitive employment marketplace! Please reach for us at sales@peoplelinkgroup.com.

Giving Thanks

The end of the year is a time traditionally reserved for gathering as family and friends, celebrating togetherness and relationships, and ushering in a new year with excitement and joy. People will remember 2020 as a year of interrupted traditions, adjusted plans, and postponed gatherings, all for the sake of protecting the very loved ones we may not get to see. While tensions have been high and general stress and anxiety a daily concern, how we close out this year is ultimately up to us.

Despite difficulties, in the remaining weeks of the year, we can reflect on our many blessings – supportive friendships, socially distanced walks and talks, and valuable technology making it possible to connect with those closest to us via calls and video chats. Most of all, we can be thankful for a light at the end of the tunnel. We have weathered the storm and are emerging stronger than ever.

We must remain hopeful. This will not last forever. If this year has taught us anything, it is that we are both flexible and resilient. We have changed many aspects of our lives to keep ourselves and others healthy. We are vigilant about hand washing and sanitizing, wearing a mask, and maintaining social distancing whether in the workplace or in public. We have proven that we can face an unprecedented challenge head-on and not let it get the better of us.

We close out 2020 proudly, thankful for the acts of bravery and kindness we’ve witnessed. Grateful for our friends and family, we face 2021 with optimism, knowing even in times of difficulty we will persevere. We look forward to working together with you in 2021. Please reach for us at sales@peoplelinkgroup.com.

Happy 4th of July!

In observance of the 4th of July, our offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable time celebrating with family. Happy 4th of July!

Important Update From Our Leadership Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect people and businesses around the globe, we feel it is important to update our social media community on our action plan to assist in the recovery process currently underway. While many questions remain unanswered, we want you to know that we are attentive to current information from the government and medical communities. The health and safety of our workers, our employees, and our communities remain our top priority.

We play a critical role in helping our clients remain in operation. Without our contingent workers, our clients companies’ productivity slows down and can lead to long term decreased workforces. We are working diligently to ensure that individuals can continue to work and provide for their families and that our customers can keep their doors open and businesses running. We are also diligently monitoring this from beyond just our own offices and are highly engaged with all of our workers out on assignment, taking extra precautions to keep them safe and healthy.

We are following the steps released by the CDC and WHO to provide optimal cleanliness in our branches including consistent disinfecting of surfaces, door handles, office supplies and anything frequently used by office staff and guests. We are following the social distancing guidelines by operating by appointment only and limiting our staff to only those essential for branch operation and requiring anyone that is sick to stay home. We have also posted steps for proper self-assessment at the entrance to every branch to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

If you are interested in coming in for an interview to be placed with one of our clients, please contact the office and schedule a time to talk with one of our recruiters. We appreciate your understanding during these difficult times and hope that everyone stays safe and healthy.

Thank you,
Jay Reid, CEO
Tara Burns, COO

A medida que la propagación del nuevo coronavirus (COVID-19) continúa afectando a personas y empresas en todo el mundo, creemos que es importante actualizar nuestra comunidad de redes sociales en nuestro plan de acción para ayudar en el proceso de recuperación actualmente en curso. Si hay muchas preguntas que permanecen sin respuesta, queremos que sepan que estamos atentos a la información actual del gobierno y las comunidades médicas. La salud y la seguridad de nuestros trabajadores, nuestros empleados y nuestras comunidades siguen siendo nuestra principal prioridad.

Desempeñamos un papel fundamental para ayudar a nuestros clientes a permanecer en funcionamiento. Sin nuestros trabajadores contingentes\temporarios, la productividad de las empresas de nuestros clientes se ralentiza y puede conducir a una disminución de la fuerza laboral a largo plazo. Estamos trabajando diligentemente para garantizar que las personas puedan seguir trabajando y mantener a sus familias y que nuestros clientes puedan mantener sus puertas abiertas y las empresas en funcionamiento. También estamos monitoreando esto diligentemente desde más allá de nuestras propias oficinas y estamos muy comprometidos con todos nuestros trabajadores asignados, tomando precauciones adicionales para mantenerlos seguros y saludables.

Estamos siguiendo los pasos publicados por los CDC y la OMS para proporcionar una limpieza óptima en nuestras sucursales, incluida la desinfección constante de superficies, manijas de puertas, suministros de oficina y todo lo que el personal de la oficina y los invitados usan con frecuencia. Estamos siguiendo las pautas de distanciamiento social operando solo con cita previa y limitando a nuestro personal solo a aquellos esenciales para la operación de la sucursal y requiriendo que cualquier persona enferma se quede en casa. También hemos publicado pasos para una autoevaluación adecuada en la entrada de cada sucursal para minimizar el riesgo de propagación del virus.

Si está interesado en venir para una entrevista con uno de nuestros clientes, comuníquese con la oficina y programe un horario para hablar con uno de nuestros reclutadores. Apreciamos su comprensión durante estos tiempos difíciles y esperamos que todos se mantengan seguros y saludables.

Gracias,
Jay Reid, CEO
Tara Burns, COO