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How Safe Are Modern Construction Sites?
Decades ago, construction sites were extraordinarily dangerous and construction workers took risks just by being on a jobsite. Thankfully, we’ve seen some major improvements to construction site technology and best practices for workplace safety.
But just how safe are modern construction sites for workers?
The Importance of Construction Safety
Let’s start by talking about the importance of construction area safety. Depending on the construction area, workers can be exposed to a number of dangerous conditions. They may be forced to work with dangerous materials, such as hot asphalt, or may need to put themselves in dangerous positions, such as climbing to great heights. Falling debris, lost balance, misused and mishandled materials, and more can lead to devastating injuries.
No matter how safe a worksite is, construction accidents can and do happen. Even in perfect circumstances, freak accidents and unusual activities (such as abnormal weather conditions or unseen trespassers) can lead to an accident.
With that in mind, we can establish that no construction site is ever truly, perfectly safe – so construction workers and supervisors must always be on guard.
New Tools, Technologies, and Trends
Thankfully, new tools, technologies, and trends have reshaped the modern construction site.
These are just a few examples:
- Digital information and processes. Historically, construction workers have relied on paper manuals and temporary instruction to learn proper safety procedures and follow operational directives. But thanks to the onset of digital technology, it’s easier than ever for supervisors and project leads to condense and distribute information, workflows, and processes. At any time, employees can get access to instructions and safety guidelines – so there’s no excuse for not following them exactly.
- Wearable devices. Wearable IoT devices have also transformed the construction industry. Now, thanks to precise tracking and data analytics, construction workers can get automatic notifications when they’re entering an actively dangerous area – or get warnings to wear certain types of protective equipment. In the future, these wearable devices will become even more sophisticated, taking precise measurements and issuing alerts for a wide variety of potential events.
- AI and automation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have also meaningfully improved the safety of the average construction site. Some manual tasks have been completed automated with the help of advanced software and robotics; when humans are removed from the equation entirely, there’s virtually no health or safety risk. Additionally, AI has been deployed to practice better data analytics, making recommendations and predictions so that construction sites can operate more smoothly.
- Drones. Even if you’re not afraid of heights, you might shudder at the thought of climbing up to the top of the skyscraper to complete construction on it. While we still need human workers to climb up high and take care of certain construction objectives, the addition of drones has minimized this need. Drones, with effective human piloting and advanced photography capabilities, are capable of scoping out even the highest places without putting any human beings in danger.
- Streamlined training. Better education and training can make any workplace safer. Now that we live in an era with constant internet access and convenient mobile devices, construction companies have access to much more advanced forms of education and training. In a matter of days, new employees can be brought up to speed, and supervisors can automatically track and monitor the progress of their subordinates.
- Data analytics. Finally, advanced data analytics technology makes it easier for leaders in the workplace to evaluate potential safety concerns and work proactively to address them. They can monitor foot traffic to and from areas, look into potential safety red flags, and more.
Construction sites also benefit from the fact that more businesses are taking workplace safety more seriously than ever before. We live in an era where health and safety are high priorities, such that the culture on construction sites has changed for the better.
The Caveats
There are a few caveats to this assertion, however.
- The job site. Different job sites have different levels of risk. Depending on the height of the job, the materials being used, and the nature of the work, employees are going to face varying levels of danger.
- Culture. It’s the norm for construction companies to take safety seriously, but there are also occasional deviations from this trend. If your workplace culture isn’t on point, safety may become a bigger concern.
- Unforeseen variables. No matter how careful you are, there are unforeseeable variables that can affect the safety and security of your jobsite.
Overall, it’s clear that construction sites are safer than they’ve ever been in the past. And despite the occasional accident, most construction workers don’t have to worry about getting hurt as long as they follow proper procedures. In the future, better technology has the potential to make construction sites even safer than we know them today.
Featured
Have You Tried Bottled Cocktails? Here’s Why You Should
Bottled cocktails, or ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, are all the rage right now. Around 55% of average consumers consider them as a convenient way to have a cocktail.
While convenience is an attractive factor, there are plenty of other reasons why bottled cocktails are on the rise. Check out the benefits and options you have when it comes to this new trend.
What Is a Bottled Cocktail?
Bottled cocktails are pre-mixed alcoholic beverages. Some bottles are interesting artisanal blends; others are simple and straightforward drinks. These drinks require no effort on your part—just open, sip, and enjoy.
Beyond hard alcoholic beverages, you also have access to canned wine and hard seltzers. Additionally, some bottled cocktails come in the form of do-it-yourself kits. While these require a little bit of effort, they’re still much easier to handle than purchasing every cocktail ingredient yourself.
The Benefits of Bottled Cocktails
From bars to liquor stores, you have a lot of options when it comes to making cocktails. However, bottled cocktails provide significant perks and should be on your radar. If you’re skeptical about bottled cocktails, take a look at these fantastic benefits that cater to all sorts of situations and tastes.
They’re Portable
Whether you’re going to the beach or a picnic, no one wants to lug around bottles of wine and liquor. That’s why bottled cocktails are an excellent choice for on-the-go activities.
By bringing ready-to-drink cocktails, you save yourself the hassle of mixing drinks yourself. After all, no one wants to go on bartender duty when they’d rather have fun.
They’re Simple
Depending on if you choose a cocktail-making kit or a ready-to-drink cocktail, the main perk is simplicity. You no longer have to purchase several different bottles of liquor, mixers, and garnishes to create your ideal cocktail. Depending on the type of cocktail, you get all of the ingredients together without any effort on your part.
You Get Variety
Bottled cocktails are perfect for people who want variety in their alcoholic drinks. Kits and bottled cocktails allow you to explore interesting recipes with ease, such as hard seltzers. If you prefer the classics, like an old fashioned or a martini, you have access to those too.
Plus, whether you’re looking for a light afternoon sip or a stiff party, there are plenty of options for whatever you’re in the mood for. You can check out these bottled cocktails that are boxed and ready-to-ship, check out your local grocery store or even make your own.
They’re Cost-Effective
Bottled cocktails prevent you from having to purchase entire liquor bottles. Plus, some cocktails require niche garnishes and odd additions that end up getting wasted if you only make one cocktail. The cost-savings are all part of what makes bottled cocktails worth your attention.
Opt for Bottled Brews
Bottled cocktails aren’t just a new trend. These types of cocktails provide great benefits and make happy hours a lot easier for everyone involved. With the wide variety of cocktails available, you’re guaranteed to find a blend you’ll love without the hassle of making it yourself.
If you loved this guide, check out the rest of our posts. We write helpful blogs about traveling, recipes, and more.
Destinations
Singapore and Hong Kong Begin Air Travel Bubble by the End of November
Starting on November 22, Singapore and Hong Kong will begin an air travel bubble initiative to allow the improvement of the tourism industry in both locations.
Singapore and Hong Kong plan to begin an air travel bubble at the end of November. By doing so, travelers from either city will not have to go through quarantine procedures when visiting the other, permitting improvement in the tourism industry of both locations.
Beginning on November 22, tourists from either locality must undergo a COVID-19 test and have a negative result before traveling, during arrival, and before leaving. Each air bubble travel flight shall merely accommodate 200 passengers. Only a single flight per day shall be allowed, increasing to two per day starting on December 7.
The said air travel bubble shall be permitted as long as both cities do not attain a continuous 7-day upsurge of more than five COVID-19 cases. If this happens, however, flights shall be suspended for a couple of weeks to control possible transmission of the virus.
“Hong Kong and Singapore are similar in terms of epidemic control. Both are regional aviation hubs and international cities, enjoying strong trade, investment, finance, tourism and people-to-people ties. The revival of cross-border air travel between the two places is of utmost importance,” according to Edward Yau, Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development.
Yau stresses on the necessity of improving the retail, hotel, tourism, and aviation industries in Hong Kong. He posits that the planned air travel bubble may add a huge boost to the economic situation of the country.
Additionally, Hong Kong officials announce that residents coming from Macau or Guangdong province shall be allowed to enter the country starting November 23 without further need for quarantine procedures as long as they test negative from COVID-19. Nevertheless, they also have to register in advance. Also, the said exemption shall only be a one-way provision and Hong Kong residents who plan to travel to mainland China shall still be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
To guarantee the safety of travelers and residents alike, the air travel bubble initiative shall put in place a daily quota temporarily. This will also inhibit overcrowding, stresses Tommy Yuen, director of special duties at the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau.
The need to prevent the resurgence of rapid COVID-19 transmission in both Hong Kong and Singapore is crucial. As of writing, Singapore has a record of 58,091 total cases while Hong Kong has only 5,408.
Various countries are now considering the necessary step of reopening their borders to outside travelers via some sort of air travel bubble arrangement. The coronavirus pandemic has already taken a total of 1,289,533 lives worldwide and continuous infection is still a major global concern.
Simultaneously, the need to rebuild economic stability is another huge consternation. The tourism industry has always been one of the major sources of revenue globally. The vast impact of the pandemic to tourism may be gradually solved by initiating air travel bubble flights, permitting a limited number of visitors to visit popular tourist hotspots without threatening the government’s efforts toward eradicating COVID-19 infection. To date, a global total of 52,432,517 cases is recorded.
Destinations
This Is How to Plan a Destination Wedding
Are you having a hard time planning a destination wedding?
Did you know that the wedding industry has a value of 55.1 billion USD despite the pandemic? This means that you’re still going to spend a lot when you opt for a traditional wedding. This is often the number one hurdle for most couples as it means that they need to have a high budget to get married.
If you go for a destination wedding, though, you forgo most of the costs of a traditional wedding. How to plan a destination wedding, though? Check what we have below to learn how you can plan a destination wedding and get married in the most scenic way possible.
Choose a Meaningful Destination
The first thing that you should plan when going for a destination wedding is the destination itself. Deciding on this will help you plan out the rest of the event with ease. What’s great is that there are tons of locations for you to choose from.
The best destination weddings are amazing because the bride and groom choose a location that’s meaningful to them. So, to make your as enjoyable and successful, make sure your venue has a meaning behind it. Select a special location from your childhood memories if you want it to add more memories to the venue.
You can also pick among the best destination wedding locations if you’re strapped for ideas. These are sure to give you and your guests a good time before, during, and after the wedding.
Set a Budget
Now that you have a destination in mind, use that as a reference to what your budget will be. Make sure that you include the cost of the accommodation and the fees for travel in your budget to know how much you have left.
Use that budget to plan out the rest of the event. A great way to cut on costs and extend your budget is by forgoing traditional wedding decor. Replace them with local flora, instead, as they’re likely cheaper than cloth and fabrics.
You can also choose local delicacies to make all the investments going towards food friendlier to your budget. Doing all these things should help you with your budget for the wedding.
Create an Invite List
With your budget in mind, you should now choose who you’ll invite to your wedding. A good rule of thumb is to invite the people who matter the most to you first. Once you complete that list, consider how much you’ll need to pay for each of them and if it fits in your budget.
If you still have room for more, consider who can and will go abroad to celebrate your special day with you. Including these people is sure to help you fill the seat count for your big day.
Ensure You Have All Necessary Documents
Once you have the destination nailed down, prepare all the documents you need. This goes beyond a marriage certificate and license. Traveling abroad for a wedding means you must also have a Visa and passport at the ready.
Make sure to prepare the change of name documents, birth certificates, and death certificates for divorcees. You never know when you’ll need them, and it’s a pain to get those documents if you’re in another country.
Make sure to include written authorization letters for your guests, too. Anyone under 18 will need this to travel abroad if they don’t have their parents with them.
Choose Someone to Officiate Your Wedding
Next, you need to choose someone who will officiate the wedding for you. If the country you’re traveling to shares the same religious beliefs as you, it should be easy to find one. If not, though, it can be a pain to find someone who will.
Check the local laws to see who they allow to wed people in destination weddings. If you see that they allow anyone who’s gotten ordained before, you can have your friends officiate for you. Doing this makes your wedding one of a kind and is a great way to save on money.
Pick a Theme
Now that you have most worries out of the way, it’s time to pick the theme of your wedding. You’ll want to pick a theme that suits your destination for the wedding. If you’re doing the wedding at a beach, going for a tropical theme is a good idea.
If you don’t want to pick a theme, pick a color scheme, instead. Pick colors that will benefit you and the guests at the destination. Dark colors for cold environments, and lighter ones for hotter environments.
Notify Your Guestlist In Advance
With most of the items on your checklist done, it’s about time for you to notify your guests. Doing this will help them know how much they have to set aside for their fare. Most guests have no idea until a short time before the wedding, making them miss the event.
Doing this also helps your guests pack for the location. They will know what to wear for their leisure time and what they should wear for the wedding itself.
Handpick Your Vendors
Before it’s too late, visit the location and handpick your vendors. It’s better to do this early on so that you can consider your budget and scout the local talent. One way to do this is to ask the locals for referrals.
They’re more familiar with the people in the location and can point you towards the best of the best. This will give you time to negotiate the prices and secure their services for the day.
Learn How to Plan a Destination Wedding Today
Planning a destination wedding shouldn’t be a stressful thing to do. It should be as relaxing as the venue you’ll set for the event. Check our guide and learn how to plan a destination wedding today!
Do you want to learn more about weddings and event planning? Check out more of our posts and guides to learn all you can about event planning today!
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