5 Apps LHSFNA Recommends for Construction Workers
The apps address ladder safety, heat stress, safe lifting, noise monitoring, and first aid.
The Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America has recommended five apps that are useful to construction workers in the April issue of its Lifelines enewsletter. The apps address ladder safety, heat stress, safe lifting, noise, and first aid.
1. NIOSH Ladder Safety, available free on iPhone and Android. Created by NIOSH, the app makes it easy to set an extension ladder at the proper angle of 75.5 degrees. An angle of inclination indicator helps to prevent misjudging ladder angle, which could cause the ladder to slide out or fall away.
2. OSHA Heat Safety Tool, available free on iPhone and Android. Described as a "must-have for the summer months," the app calculates the day's heat index and provides the risk level for outdoor work.
3. SPLnFFT Noise Meter, $3.99 on iPhone and iPad; SoundMeter free on Android. These are some of the apps that measure decibel levels; they can be a good reference, according to LHSFNA.
HT NIOSH Lift Calculator, $2.99 on iPhone and iPad; NIOSH Lifting Index, free on Android. These apps allow a user to perform the NIOSH Lifting Equation to determine the recommended weight limit for a given task over the course of an eight-hour shift. "Note that these apps do assume prior professional training in how to use the NIOSH Lifting Equation and are not a substitute for that training," the newsletter's article states.
5. First Aid: American Red Cross, free on iPhone, iPad, and Android. This app step-by-step instructions for common first aid scenarios,safety tips for emergency preparedness, and quizzes that let the user earn badges for improving his or her lifesaving knowledge.