If you’re running a construction business, then you already know how vital it is to have effective and comprehensive safety measures to help projects move along as efficiently as possible. However, if your project involves the handing of heavy construction materials, such as heavy mechanical equipment that has to be installed, or even loads of bricks, concrete, gravel, or otherwise, ensuring the safe movement and transport of those materials is vital. Here are a few ways that you can address the risk that this challenge poses.

Make use of pallets

When possible, you want to make sure that you can get the materials you want to use on pallets. These are much easier to transport with the help of a pallet truck, which makes sure that you can more easily control the height and movement of the pallet. They are by far the easiest way to control the movement of heavier materials and equipment. The only problem is that they’re only suited for materials on pallets and only when you have accessible, flat roads or ground to work with.

Getting over uneven ground

When you have uneven ground, then smaller and more precise equipment like a pallet truck lifting things on pallets isn’t going to work as well, since there is a greater risk of them tipping over. To that end, you want to look at using equipment with large wheels. Larger wheeled vehicles, such as dump truck or haul truck is better able to navigate over those loads. However, you have to make sure that you have the appropriate way to move the material from the truck to the site, as well. Dump trucks work well when materials such as gravel and dirt can be dumped, but not for materials that might break if dumped.

When ground access isn’t possible

Sometimes, getting to the site over the ground with heavy materials or equipment might not be possible. Or you might have equipment that would not tolerate transport via a larger vehicle that can make it across uneven terrain. One solution that might seem out of the box but is actually widely used in construction is a helicopter lift. Not only can they lower heavy materials down to a site regardless of what kind of access the ground offers. They are also great for providing access to higher locations such as rooftops where heavy equipment or machinery has to be installed.

Planning is vital

What’s most important is to make sure that when it comes time to move heavy equipment or materials, you don’t have any other risks moving around the site. You need to plan the time carefully, ensure that work on other parts of the project stops, and use equipment such as safety barriers to cordon off the area while the heavy materials or equipment are moving through it.

Which solution is right for your project is largely going to depend on the specifics of that project. However, you have to take the time to assess the risks and determine the safest course of action. Don’t assume your team can simply handle heavy loads of construction materials and equipment themselves.