Page 18 - OHS, September 2023

PPE: CONSTRUCTION Building the Future: Navigating Safety Hazards in the Surge of EV Gigafactory Construction The construction industry is racing to keep pace with big-name auto brands’ race to build EV plants. What does that mean for worker safety and PPE needs? BY OMAR VIKIN Electric vehicles (EVs) have experienced a remarkable surge in growth in the past few years. Sales of EVs are expected to grow by another 35 percent in 2023 alone. This boom welcomes new jobs in all areas of theEVmanufacturingprocess.Since2018, there has been a 29 percent increase1 in the number of people employed in this industry with no signs of slowing down. So, it’s no surprise that more factories are being built to accommodate this boom. In 2021, automakers announced $36 billion of investments2 to build facilities for making EVs and batteries. If you haven’t heard of a Gigafactory yet, you soon will. Coined by Elon Musk in 2013, the term Gigafactory has been adopted by the broader EV industry to refer to their battery manufacturing plants. With electric vehicles taking the auto industry by storm, 13 additional U.S. plants have been announced and are expected to be operational by 20253. These Gigafactories are expansive. For example, the latest U.S. Gigafactory that is currently under construction in Austin, Texas, has over 10 million square feet of factory floor — that’s 100 football fields4. With this surve in construction jobs for the EV industry, workers will face new hazards and safety protocols. Let’s talk about the four stages of EV facility construction, and how protective gear can vary between those stages. Stage 1. Groundwork This is the first stage and base of any construction project. This includes all the initial work that goes toward creating a good foundation. There are several hazards in this stage. Demolition, Excavation, Digging. This stage involves clearing the site to begin building and laying the foundation. When digging or excavating, the sides may collapse. This is a common hazard, but nonetheless, it can be avoided with support systems for the hole that is being dug. Since EV factories are so large, the amount of digging that takes place is more than your usual factory floor — creating greater opportunity for cave-ins and collapsing sides. Temporary support is a great tool to relieve the load from the walls of the excavation. One way to do this is with proper shoring to keep the sides sturdy and stop them from caving in. Falling Objects. Another hazard when digging is falling objects. Don’t store anything too close to the sides of the dig, as it can cause a cave-in or injure a worker below. A hard hat should always be worn when on-site for optimal head protection. Noise. In this stage, a significant amount of noise is created with all the heavy machinery. If exposed to anything over 85 decibels for too long, permanent hearing damage can occur. Hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs can help block out any harmful noise. Exposure to Dangerous Respiratory Hazards. Groundwork jobs create debris so it’s important to take care of the respiratory system with a high-quality mask. This helps ensure that workers aren’t breathing in any toxic particles or chemical vapors. We’ll touch more on this in the interior work phase as well. Stage 2. Formwork The formwork stage is where a temporary structure is built to shape wet concrete and keep its form until it has hardened. Concrete is a popular building material, but formwork doesn’t always involve concrete. Depending on the building, aluminum, timber, steel and even plastic can be used. A key risk is falls from height. Falls From Height. In this stage, working from height is common. Falls are the number one cause5 of worker gofra/Shutterstock.com fatality in construction. Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere, anytime — that’s why being prepared is worth the extra steps. OSHA requires fall protection when construction workers are working at heights of 6 feet or greater above a lower level. This means that any type of work on scaffolding or roofing should have fall protection. Harnesses, self-retracting lifelines, and anchorage systems can all help to prevent falls and give workers peace of mind that they are protected on the job. With all the moving parts in this stage, proper hand, head, and respiratory protection should also be worn. You can never have too much personal protective equipment (PPE) when working alongside potential hazards. Stage3.Installation This basically entails installing building items in their fixed locations, joining parts together, or cutting materials to size. This stage also includes installing electrical, heating, and gas pipes throughout the 18 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com