What is the recommended action during heavy rainfall or freezing/thawing to ensure safety?

The recommended action during heavy rainfall or freezing/thawing conditions is to examine the working areas as often as necessary. This is vital for ensuring safety because adverse weather can lead to hazardous conditions, such as slippery surfaces, reduced visibility, and potential equipment failure due to freezing. Regular examinations allow supervisors to identify risks, assess ground stability, and ensure that workers are operating in safe environments. These assessments can help determine if areas are safe to work in or need to be secured, thus proactively preventing accidents or injuries.

The other options may not provide adequate safety measures. For instance, reducing the number of workers on-site does not necessarily address the risks present in the environment. Delaying all operations until conditions improve could be impractical, especially if some areas remain safe to work in. Increasing the use of heavy machinery could further complicate safety since heavy equipment may contribute to additional hazards in already unstable conditions. Therefore, frequent examinations are a proactive approach to maintaining safety during inclement weather.