While snow in the winter is common in some parts of the U.S., central Texas is dealing with record breaking snow storms that have caused widespread power outages, bursting pipes and unbearable streets.
The severe winter weather has not only affected people’s homes, but also put a halt on construction, suspending work to ensure worker safety on jobsites.
A recent Construction Dive article explained why so many Texans are experiencing hardships.
“It’s not only the snow and ice on the ground that makes conditions so dangerous, but also the extreme cold, which most Texans are not accustomed to.”
There have been at least 17 weather-related deaths in Texas since the first storm, with roughly 3 million people without power between central and southern Texas.
For construction workers, projects have paused until further notice, not only because of the conditions that made most jobsites unsafe, but because it is dangerous for workers, who oftentimes travel long distances, to get to the jobsite.
In terms of precautions for contractors, most construction contracts allow an extension to the construction schedule when a jobsite is shut down because of extreme weather.
If you do need to leave your house or are working in severe conditions, please refer to the winter safety tips provided by the Texas Department of Insurance.
