Climate change will have a direct and immediate impact on your job site. The experts at NASA say climate change will make natural disasters and dangerous weather more common. Droughts, hurricanes, extreme temperatures, and wildfires will become more intense and more frequent, putting your job sites at risk.
Mother Nature can harm your equipment in various ways, from temperature shifts affecting the performance of various machines to severe storms flooding your engines and electrical systems. Heavy industries that rely on this equipment could have significant, unexpected losses each year because of damage caused by harsh weather. Not only does this affect your profitability, but it can also drive up your business insurance costs.
You can’t hide from climate change, but you can take steps to better protect your equipment. Here are a few threats to heavy industries and how to mitigate your risk when facing them.
1. Preventing Freezing
Extreme temperatures caused by climate change can cause unexpected freezes. This can harm your equipment if it uses any form of water or certain chemicals that are prone to freezing. Before the onset of winter, check the antifreeze levels in your equipment and be sure to store your equipment in a warehouse or shed.
If you use equipment seasonally, store it before winter storms set in. It’s unsafe to move machinery when road conditions or slippery and poor, and exposure to road salt can cause rust to eat away at the undercarriage.
2. Maintaining Hydration
Checking your antifreeze levels is a good best practice ahead of winter, but your staff should be trained on how to inspect every fluid level regularly. Some machines need water to run effectively, and extreme heat caused by climate change can evaporate your stores faster than you think.
Maintaining human hydration is also important. Dehydration can cause dizziness and fatigue, which means your team is more likely to have accidents because they aren’t able to work at their best. Keep water stations around your job site so your team members don’t harm your equipment or themselves.
3. Preventing Overheating
Extremely hot temperatures can have a big impact on your equipment. Machines can become unsafe to handle because they are too hot to touch, especially if your employees work within cabs. Plastic elements can melt and your engines can overheat. Depending on your equipment, overheating will cause the machines to shut down or perform inefficiently. Overheating can also shorten the lifespan of the equipment, costing you more in the long run.
Consider investing in temporary shade structures for your job sites to keep equipment out of direct sunlight. Giving the machine time to cool and only using it for short periods can also prevent overheating.
4. Choosing Resilient Equipment and Components
Climate change will affect all aspects of the equipment management process, including the items you purchase. As you replace your machines, look for new models that meet your durability needs and are designed to withstand the elements. This will make it easier to bounce back after a storm.
For example, Cummins 4BT Engines can be fixed relatively easily and if you address common problems quickly, your engine will keep running. The same can be said for Caterpillar 3306 Engines, which are known for durability.
Evaluate which machines are most likely to break down, which ones are most expensive, and which ones are the most delicate in your fleet. You can then prioritize replacing them as you upgrade.
5. Maintaining Backup Equipment
Climate change will increase the prevalence of natural disasters that could harm your equipment. To minimize downtime, you can maintain your backup equipment through a regular maintenance schedule. You can also rotate the equipment you use so each machine has even wear and tear and is ready to go in the wake of a disaster or accident.
6. Preventing Static Electricity Buildup
Static electricity is known to build up when there is cold, dry weather. It occurs when there is friction between two objects that are made of different materials. Static can build up in your heavy equipment, potentially harming your staff that handle these machines. It can also build up in jugs and containers, potentially creating sparks around flammable liquids and gases.
Avoid storing equipment outdoors in extreme cold conditions to prevent static buildup. You should also store any flammable liquids properly and out of extreme weather elements. Finally, follow best practices for grounding containers so they are less likely to spark when you are adding or removing chemicals.
7. Dealing With Heavy Winds
Wind on its own doesn’t necessarily damage equipment, but high winds can dislodge debris and send it flying — potentially harming your equipment and your staff. If you operate in an area that experiences tornados, you may have storms with winds exceeding 300 mph. Hurricane-prone regions can experience winds exceeding 175 mph. Storms will become more intense as the effects of climate change worsen.
Storing equipment is one of the best ways to protect it from damage caused by flying debris. It is also important to monitor the weather and close your job site when the wind picks up. It is better to lose a day of work than to lose expensive equipment or an employee’s life.
8. Using Proper Lighting
Poor visibility doesn’t just occur at night. Intense storms caused by climate change can darken skies and make it hard to see with high winds and thick rain showers.
Improperly lit job sites are a threat to your employees and your equipment. Accidents are more likely to occur in low-visibility areas which can be costly to your company and seriously harm your staff.
Consider upgrading your systems to LED lights, which are brighter, last longer, and cost less to use. You may have a higher upfront investment, but the long-term savings and the increased safety on your job site will be worth it.
9. Properly Storing Equipment
As storms become more frequent, you want to have a place to keep your equipment safe. Consider renting warehouse space near your job site or building a shelter near your administrative offices to store your machines. Look for places where you can store even your largest items out of the elements and away from extreme temperatures. This can prolong their use and prevent damage from wind, water, and hail.
Properly storing equipment also applies to autonomous tractors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is almost more important to have a procedure in place because these machines aren’t manned.
10. Monitoring Weather
One of the best ways to protect your equipment is to proactively respond to weather threats. Monitoring the weather can help you anticipate storms and secure your equipment.
There are multiple ways to monitor the weather. Along with checking weather apps daily, you can read the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin by the USDA. It reports precipitation, drought conditions, and extreme temperatures across the country. Finally, set extreme weather alerts on your devices for your area. As soon as severe weather is expected, your team can take action.
Good habits can add up and protect your equipment, even as climate conditions become more extreme. Investments today will help your company survive and thrive in the years to come.
