Natural disasters have affected people around the world. These floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes have caused significant damage, which requires the efforts of many construction companies and their workers. Cranes, bulldozers, and other forms of heavy equipment are needed to clean up the debris and to make the communities safe again. Then, truckers are needed to haul in the equipment for the cleanups, take in supplies for the rebuilding, and haul in the equipment for the new construction efforts to clean up the damage.

The Water Damage Restoration and Clean-Up Process

For those communities that have suffered from flooding, there will be a need for water damage restoration and clean-up to ensure the communities are safe for residents. Here are some tips for those working with flood clean-up and restoration:

• Structural and electrical damage inspections – starting from the exterior before entrance is permitted
• Check for gas leaks and fire hazards using battery-powered light sources
• Wear durable shoes, eye protection, and sturdy rubber gloves
• Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or ammonia during the cleaning process.
• Stay on the lookout for snakes, rodents, fire ants, and other animals.
• Wear a respirator to filter spores when working around mold

Clean-Up After Tornados or Earthquakes

The clean-up process after an earthquake or tornado can be intense. Be sure to wear gloves, sturdy shoes, and protective gear. Be on the lookout for electrical risks, such as broken power lines. Watch for broken glass, sharp objects, and rodents. A respirator might be needed to filter the air if there are contaminants or mold.

Training For Such Tasks

If you are interested in a career helping with cleanup and damage restoration or rebuilding after natural disasters, ATS training programs are available to train those for different roles in the construction field. Learn about heavy equipment operation, crane operating, or truck driving from ATS. To learn about the ATS programs, call (800) 383-7364 today to learn more about training programs at Associated Training Services.

There are a lot of ways an excavator operator can get into trouble and make mistakes. Some of them are dangerous, like undercutting your machine when digging a trench, or working on a slope the wrong way. Others are really kind of funny, like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. In this classic children’s book, the challenge to do the work in a day leads to forgetting they’d need a ramp to get out of the construction pit they just dug.

It Starts With A Plan

Part of the reason Mike Mulligan is a sympathetic character is because we all forget to plan sometimes. In Mike’s case, he was in a hurry to get the job done so he missed a step because he was looking at the goal. Who hasn’t done this? It’s very easy to be so focused on digging the trench or the pit that you realize you are stuck only when it happens.

An experienced excavator will look over the job and visualize all the potential hangups before beginning to dig. Mike was experienced, but he was in a hurry so he ignored his experience. In real life, Mike probably would have been able to figure out how to get his steam shovel Mary Anne out of the predicament he’d put her in. Real life experience learns how to deal with mistakes.

Training Prevents Mistakes

Before planning a particular job it’s a good idea to get the best heavy equipment operator training so you learn from your instructors’ mistakes. Carefully collecting the training and certifications you need to be a professional excavator prepares you for any job. It may not be as amusing as Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne in their predicament, but it will be a lot more rewarding to avoid as many mistakes as possible.