With the holiday season in full swing, it’s crucial to keep safety front and center, especially with the added hustle and bustle. Whether you’re on the construction site or gearing up for some well-deserved time off, here are some tips to make sure we all stay safe and healthy during the holidays.

1. Stay Warm, Stay Safe

Winter’s here, and while the snow might look beautiful, it brings its own set of challenges. To avoid cold-related issues:

• Bundle up in warm layers to protect against the chill.
• Watch out for signs of cold-related illnesses, and if you notice a teammate shivering or stumbling, get help ASAP.
• Rock those winter protective gears – think insulated layers, headgear, gloves, and waterproof jackets.

2. Decorate Safely

Getting into the holiday spirit with decorations? Awesome! Just remember to keep it safe:

• Use the right ladder for the job and check it thoroughly before climbing.
• Inspect holiday lights for any damage and only use outdoor-rated extension cords.
• Keep faux trees away from heat sources, and never leave lit candles unattended.

3. Drive Smart

Traffic gets crazier during the holidays, so let’s be smart on the roads:

• Take breaks every two hours during long drives to stay alert.
• Plan your trips so you’re not rushing and breaking any speed records.

4. Balance Offsite Activities

We know the holidays come with socializing and celebrating. Stay on top of your game with these reminders:

• Enjoy holiday treats in moderation.
• Take some downtime to relax and de-stress.
• Sneak in some physical activity during your time off.
• Stick to your regular routines and get enough sleep.

5. Keep Stress in Check

The holidays can bring joy, but let’s face it – they can also bring stress. Here’s how to manage it:

• Recognize and deal with feelings like fatigue, stress, and irritability.
• Support each other and keep the communication lines open.

Let’s make this holiday season not only cheerful but safe for all of us. Look out for each other, follow these tips, and here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season!

Who all felt that extra hour of sleep after the Daylight Saving Time this morning? Did you know that this change in time isn’t just about adjusting our clocks—it actually affects various industries, including construction. As we kick off the first workday after “falling back,” it’s interesting to explore how this time change history impacts the construction business.

The History of Daylight Saving Time

The idea of DST was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin in a whimsical essay in 1784, proposing the adjustment of waking times to save candle usage. However, the formal concept and implementation of DST were credited to George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, who proposed a two-hour shift in 1895 to allow for more daylight after work.

The first practical use of DST came during World War I when several countries adopted it to conserve fuel. However, it wasn’t until World War II that DST gained widespread adoption as a means to save energy and increase productivity.

Today, many countries around the world observe DST, though not all regions participate. The dates of implementation, as well as whether or not a country adopts it, vary widely.

Impact on the Construction Industry

For the construction industry, which heavily relies on daylight for outdoor work, the change in time can significantly affect operations. The shift in daylight hours due to DST can influence construction projects in several ways:

1. Extended Working Hours: Longer daylight hours in the evenings during DST allow construction crews to work for an extended period. This can be particularly advantageous during the summer months, as it enables more tasks to be completed in a single day, potentially expediting project timelines.
2. Efficiency and Productivity: More daylight means more time for work on construction sites. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency, as workers have more natural light to perform tasks, reducing the need for artificial lighting and potentially reducing operational costs.
3. Scheduling Challenges: The transition into and out of DST can cause disruption in project schedules. Changes in daylight hours can necessitate adjustments in work hours or shift timings, which might require additional planning and coordination among construction teams.
4. Safety Concerns: In regions where the time change affects sunrise and sunset times, safety concerns may arise. Early morning construction activities or those that extend into the evening might experience changes in lighting conditions, impacting worker safety and visibility.
5. Supply Chain and Logistics: The impact of DST isn’t just limited to construction site activities. It can also affect supply chain logistics and delivery schedules, influencing the timely arrival of construction materials.

Conclusion

Daylight Saving Time continues to be a subject of debate regarding its actual benefits and impacts. While its influence on the construction industry varies based on geographical location, season, and specific project requirements, its effects on work hours, productivity, and safety cannot be disregarded.

As discussions around the efficacy of DST persist, it’s essential for the construction industry to adapt and plan for the potential impacts of this time change. Understanding and preparing for the fluctuations in daylight hours can help construction companies mitigate any adverse effects and optimize their operations during this temporal shift.

In conclusion, while DST may offer certain advantages in terms of longer daylight hours, it’s crucial for the construction industry to strategize and adjust schedules to harness these benefits while managing any potential challenges effectively.

Twenty years ago, the cyber threats faced personally and in the workplace were much different than they are today. We lived in the somewhat passive and relative comf

ort of believing that online passwords protected our information.  Over the last twenty years, online criminals have become increasingly more aggressive, sophisticated, and adept at hacking into our information.  To remain protected, we now must take a more active stance in securing our personal and professional information against cyber criminals.  In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.4 million reports of identity theft (Source: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book), and in 2022 identity thieves stole approximately $52 billion from American people and businesses (Source: Javelin Strategy & Research, Identity Fraud Study: The Virtual Battleground).

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( https://www.cisa.gov/ ) has designated the month of October as Cybersecurity Month. Take advantage of these tips and tactics to help stay ahead of criminals, do your part to protect your critical personal and professional information, and turn the heat up on would-be hackers.

Utilize multi-factor authentication (MFA)

• Make it harder for cybercriminals to compromise your accounts by enabling MFA.
• Where should you use MFA?
  • Financial info like banks and online stores
  • Personal info, like social media and healthcare apps
  • Information used for work
• Passwords are the frontline gatekeepers of your online kingdom. But why settle for one line of defense when you can have two? MFA doubles the security, making your accounts much more fortified.

Avoid phishing attempts

• Don’t take the bait!
• Reporting a scam helps warn others against cyber incidents. Don’t hesitate to call out phishing attempts. To stop it, report it.
• Most cyber incidents start with a phish.
• Common characteristics of phishing attempts:
  • • Create a sense of urgency or claim to need help
  • MFA adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts, making it harder for hackers to get in.
  • Ask for personal or financial information
  • Want you to download a file or click on a link
• Phishing emails disguise themselves as harmless messages, but they’re dangerous digital piranhas swimming in your inbox. Stay vigilant, spot the signs, and report suspicious emails.
• Phishing emails are sneaky bait trying to reel you in. Learn how to spot and report them.
• Phishing emails try to breach your defenses, but you can outsmart them. Learn the telltale signs of phishing, such as misspellings, suspicious attachments, or urgent requests, and report those fraudulent messages.

Leverage the benefits of password managers

• The average adult may have up to 100 passwords at any given time. Password managers create strong, unique passwords for each account.
• No matter the account, all passwords should be created with these three words in mind: long unique, and complex.
• What are the advantages of password managers?
  • Saves time
  • Generates strong passwords
  • Identifies weak passwords
• Password Managers manage all of your online credentials like usernames and passwords. Passwords are then stored in a safe, encrypted database, and new ones are generated when needed.
• Strong passwords are your first line of defense against cyber threats. Don’t settle for weak combinations. Create unique and complex passwords for each account and consider using a password manager for added convenience and security.
• Hackers love easy targets, so don’t make it easy for them. Say “no” to password123, QWERTY, etc. Opt for unique and complex passwords – allow a password manager to do the heavy lifting for you.

Update software early and often

• If you connect it, protect it. Outsmart cyber criminals by regularly updating software.
• Any device that connects to the internet is vulnerable to risks. The best defense is to keep device security software, web browsers, and operating systems up to date.
• All those update alerts from your software are important to install. Not only do they fix things that might be buggy, but they also patch up any security flaws.
• Pay attention to software update alerts and set your software to auto-update–it’s an easy way to keep things safe.
• Stay ahead by enabling automatic software updates. Automatic software updates work silently to protect your devices. Say goodbye to outdated software and embrace the power of the latest features, enhanced performance, and tightened security.

Implementing basic best practices such as these will help to keep your personal and professional information SAFE and SECURE!

September is National Preparedness Month. Being prepared is important for upper management and is just as important for company employees.  Upper management should always be well prepared in order to set a precedent for others in the company.  If management is not prepared, then it will create confusion and lead to less preparedness in employees.

What is “Being Prepared”?

Being prepared is not only about being ready but also about having all the knowledge that is necessary to complete any given task. Being prepared is the step that comes after being ready. Being prepared also requires having contingency plans put in place.  While one may be ready for “scenario A,” “scenario A” could not work out as expected, or something could go wrong, so it is always important to have a plan B, C, etc.

Are employees and upper management prepared in the way that they should be in your company?  One must ask themselves questions such as these (and the questions will vary from task-to-task):

• What are my responsibilities?
• If I have any team members, who are they?
• What do I need to review?
• Have I set the proper reminders for myself?
• Do I have the knowledge that I need to proceed?
• Do I have contingency plans put in place?

Again, these are just a few of the questions that one must ask themselves when determining how well prepared they are, and it will vary depending on the task at hand.  With the help of upper management, and the example that is set by the company, employees will have a better chance at thriving when it comes to being very well prepared, which will in turn create more success for the company as a whole.

The goals of civil site planning and design are to make efficient use of available space for a project, including buildings, parking, traffic flow, utilities, and open spaces, in an esthetically pleasing way.

Triad Engineering offers a full set of civil site planning and design services to completely develop a site from concept to final completion. Our civil team includes experienced civil engineer

s and landscape architects who have provided quality projects in a variety of markets including land planning, site development, education, healthcare facilities, water/wastewater/stormwater, landfills, reservoirs, parks and recreation, and many others. Having both engineering and landscape architects working together leads to more efficient discussions about how to best implement the desired features of a site into a better project; combining their expertise and skills to enhance the site’s design.

Changing circumstances have caused civil engineers and landscape architects to find new solutions to complicated problems like stormwater mitigation, resource management, climate change and community growth. Our civil teams can help to minimize the effects of these challenges on the environment by creating projects that connect with their communities. They can focus on more energy efficient designs that utilize water efficiency, best construction practices,   and sustainable materials.

Triad’s civil engineers use stormwater management principles in their stormwater designs. Our landscape architects find solutions to slow down water flow so that it can infiltrate properly and manage rain events on site. The civil teams also can develop temporary and long-term detention of stormwater where necessary.

If you need help with your site design projects, call Triad Engineering. Our civil team is ready to help. TRIAD Listens, Designs, & Delivers.