If you’ve worked in construction long enough, there’s usually one piece of gear you come across and think, “Where was this years ago?”
For ROII Field Representative Jesse Balbin, it’s the MicroClimate Air3, a new NIOSH-approved powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR).
Winter has a way of making routine work more complicated. Surfaces that are usually solid become slick from rain, frost, or morning dew, and ladder work — which already carries risk — can feel less predictable this time of year. Even when you’re doing everything right, a ladder that shifts unexpectedly can lead to a close call or worse.
That’s why it’s worth paying extra attention to how ladders are set up during the winter months.