Highbury Concrete

Promoting Safety Measures in Concrete Industry

New York City-based Highbury Concrete provides concrete for the construction of superstructures. As a contractor, Highbury Concrete’s main goals are quality and safety in delivering services to its clients.

Because of the many hazards that construction workers face when dealing with concrete, adopting safety measures should be very much a part of any business plan. As of 2019, more than 250,000 people work with concrete and approximately 28,000 individuals suffer from construction-related industries. Of the many hazards construction workers who work with concrete face, most of them relate to the environment, the equipment, or improper posture. Many of the accidents and injuries that happen while on a construction site related to skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritations or chemical burns from wet concrete. Other hazards come as the result of inadequate protections on equipment and inadequate tag out systems on machinery. Finally, awkward positioning and slips and falls culminate in other accidents.

To combat this issue, many companies have instituted safety procedures to ensure worker safety. Before creating a plan, though, business owners have to analyze to review the hazards in the environment. To address hazards, owners should establish written policies that address protocols for handling the variety of situations that might arise. Once guidelines have been established, holding regular training sessions for managers and employees who operate equipment is important.

Businesses should also keep track of safety tasks by routinely reviewing measures and addressing safety needs as they arise. For example, businesses should routinely evaluate equipment to assess whether it is safe to operate and provide employees with adequate protective clothing when they are working. Develop tag out procedures because this is one of the areas that lead to accidents. Finally, installing HEPA vacuums and other environmental protections will reduce accidents related to airborne pollutants.

Skyline Tower Makes the List of Tallest Buildings in New York

Highbury Concrete, Inc. supports construction management by helping managers devise ways to keep sites safe from hazards. Highbury Concrete, Inc. was recently involved with supporting construction safety on Long Island City’s Skyline Tower.

The Skyline Tower, located on 44th Drive, is touted to be one of the area’s tallest buildings. Surpassing the Citigroup building which stands at 673 feet, the Skyline Tower is expected to reach 778 feet. The exterior is primarily comprised of glass measuring almost six football fields, or 358,538 square feet. In addition to the close to 27,000 square feet of retail space and the Court Square subway stop, the building will be comprised of 802 condos ranging in cost from $500,000 to $4 million.

The Skyline Tower is a major part of overall development in the area. Long Island City is still in a phase of development and growth, and the 67-story tower is expected to add life to the area. The Skyline Tower is being constructed in cooperation with United Construction & Development Group, FSA Capital, and Risland US Holding LLC.

Common Risks Associated with Concrete Work

A New York-based concrete contractor, Highbury Concrete is committed to maintaining the safety of the public and its workers. To this end, the company maintains a team of researchers who analyze optimal concrete placement and safety practices. In addition, Highbury Concrete created the HiCON application to connect its workforce and promote the sharing of safety information.

Concrete is a versatile and durable building material, but it can also be hazardous if the proper precautions are not taken. Here are some of the most common hazards of working with concrete:

Chemical Burns
The chemicals contained within some wet concrete are irritating to the skin. When left on the skin for a brief time, concrete damages skin cells and dries skin out. Over a longer period of time, exposure to wet concrete can chemically burn the skin. Because of this, workers must always wear heavy-duty boots, gloves, and other personal protective equipment when working with wet concrete.

Respiratory Irritation
Dry concrete also poses a risk to worker health. Often, the dust from dry concrete increases the risk of illnesses and infections of the respiratory system. It can also make breathing more difficult when inhaled. This dust is produced at various stages of concrete work, from mixing and pouring the concrete to sanding and cutting it. Dust masks are essential for avoiding such respiratory issues.

Falling Injuries
When working on a construction site with concrete, workers must protect themselves from falling off high platforms and being hit by falling objects. Concrete objects, regardless of size, are capable of causing serious injury to the head when falling from higher up. This is why workers must also wear safety hats and be cautious as they move around. Meanwhile, workers on elevated platforms must wear safety harnesses to protect against potential falls.

About Highbury Concrete

Founded in 2013, Highbury Concrete, Inc., provides safe and high-quality construction services to clients in New York. Specializing in the construction of mid- to high-rise buildings, Highbury Concrete has completed over $200 million in projects, including buildings at 21 East 12th Street, 3514 Surf Avenue, 2230 Broadway, and 515 West 36th Street in New York City.

Highbury Concrete uses many safety practices to protect its workers and manage the risks associated with high-rise construction. George Villalobos, the company’s safety director, has authored a Safety General Inspection Checklist that provides a systematic guideline to ensure safety at every stage of construction. To prevent head injuries in case of a slip or fall, workers wear helmets instead of hard hats.

Highbury Concrete employs a team of professionals who are in charge of integrating safety and technology into the operations. Additionally, the company has developed a mobile app to help employees develop better safety practices. The company has also implemented the Form Deck Fall Arrest System to keep employees safe whenever they are work on tall buildings.