Cities and towns throughout the country are growing rapidly, and the Southeast is no exception. Lists of the fastest-growing cities in the country regularly include uptown and south Charlotte, Asheville, Columbia, Greenville, the Triad, the Triangle, and Charleston.
People are attracted to these areas for the mild weather, outdoor recreation opportunities, and quality of life. Moving from out west or up north often means families can upgrade their homes and properties, pay lower tax rates, and get more mileage out of their dollars. The job markets in these cities are strong, and companies are hiring for excellent careers.
Tens of thousands of people move to the Carolinas for new careers each year.
No matter where you live, numerous building projects are likely happening at any given time, from high-rise buildings to roads and shopping centers throughout suburbs and satellite towns. An essential part of that work is cranes, so much so that they have become a regular part of our cities' skylines and commutes.
Cranes are fascinatingly complex and valuable machines that have been helping humankind complete difficult and often complex tasks for millennia.
Construction sites and industries that utilize heavy equipment can be dangerous places to work if safety isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. While engineering and technology advancements have made these work zones safer, accidents can still cause delays, injuries, and fatalities.
A recent study from the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin-Madison highlights the reduction in construction worker numbers. After the industry lost nearly a third of its workforce during the recession of 2008, from which it was only starting to recover, the COVID-19 pandemic further plummeted the workforce.
There are many factors contributing to worker shortages. And, one downstream effect, other than delays in project schedules, is that the workers present can often become overworked, leading to safety concerns.