6 safety steps for contractors to follow this hurricane season

Slideshow June 12, 2018 at 12:00 AM
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The 2018 hurricane season is here, and Travelers is working to prepare construction clients for emergency weather situations from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes, flooding and other extreme weather events can disrupt construction jobs due to severe winds and heavy rain. They can also create new jobs with response work rebuilding impacted areas. Travelers experts warn that the demand surge for labor and materials, coupled with unfamiliar locations and the unique job-site hazards associated with post-event situations, can create significant risks and challenges for contractors. However, these risks can be minimized by taking a few proactive steps, detailed in the slideshow above. Related: The 2018 hurricane season is here: Are you prepared? "Before taking on a job post-storm, consider whether or not you have enough qualified staff to handle the work, the necessary materials to complete the job and adequate insurance coverage for the situation," Rick Keegan, president of Construction at Travelers, said in a statement. "Weighing the risks and putting safety first are important to protecting a business's livelihood and employees." While still in the early stages of this year's hurricane season, Travelers recommends contractors consider 6 safety steps to prepare for and prevent hurricane damage, detailed in the slideshow above. Travelers' experts detail more information on how contractors can prepare for severe weather on their Prepare & Prevent website. Related: How could the 2018 hurricane season impact P&C insurers?