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Before beginning any steel building construction project you should be thoroughly aware of the importance of safe steel building erection and construction practices. The following suggestions are merely guidelines, and the safety features required by OSHA and local codes and regulations should be closely studied before you begin your project and referred to during all construction phases.
Safety is the top priority in any steel building project. All workers at a jobsite should be familiar with all safety procedures, including all applicable OSHA requirements. Safety training is an ongoing process and as any new personnel are brought onto the project the safety procedures need to be reviewed completely again.
The worksite should be carefully examined for overhead hazards such as power lines. All excavation work should include adequate and recommended shoring and you should make sure that all power tools are operating correctly and that they are properly grounded. All tools used at the jobsite should be of a professional quality. Protective clothing, at a minimum, should include hardhats, gloves, rubber sled shoes, and eye protection.
When handling and moving loads, such as rafters, make sure that there are no damaged or frayed cables on the lifting equipment. Do not allow anyone to stand under a load at any time while it is being moved or to touch the load as it is being moved.
When erecting any steel building, always tie the mainframes together with purlins and girts before proceeding to the next bay. Never leave the jobsite if frames are unbraced or unguyed. Primary framing should never be cut or modified in the field and you should always install wind bracing as the drawings indicate.
When insulating the building, do not walk on the insulation or prop anything up against it. Contact with insulation, especially fiberglass, should be minimized by using dust masks, gloves, and long-sleeved shirts. Do not allow insulation to become wet at any time.
Finally, when working on roofs, all workers should be aware of their proximity to the edge at all times. Roof panels need to be attached to the purlins and adjacent panels for them to be considered safe to walk on. Skylights are never a safe walking surface. You should implement properly positioned walk boards to access any roof panels not fully secured.
Follow the abovementioned rules and guidelines, at a minimum, to ensure a safe completion of your steel building project. Refer to the steel building erection manual provided or contact the steel building manufacturer or supplier for further information and for answers to questions not addressed in this article.
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