Construction workers need to put a lot of effort into a shift. It can be a long day on site when you know you’ve got deadlines and keeping entertained helps. Of course, you need to concentrate on the job first and foremost, but even construction sites need a little lightening up!
That’s why radio is a vital part of any site. Not just any old radio; however, a radio that goes to and from a construction site every day needs to be one that can stand the knocks and bangs it’s going to get throughout the day.
We’re going to look at the features and functions to look for in a construction site radio, so let’s have a little bit of detail about how radio helps.
How a Radio Helps
Radio is a great medium that, despite the rise of streaming and other powerful media, remains as popular as ever. The greatest thing about radio is the sheer choice of stations. You can find local radio stations that feature local stories and acts or the main BBC and other mainstream music stations. Some stations specialize in a certain genre, and talk radio is popular at construction sites as it can get everyone involved.
Then there are the news radio stations that keep you up to date with what’s going on, and let’s not forget two areas essential to construction that can be updated by radio broadcasts – the weather and the traffic.
Each of these is well covered by local stations giving warnings. But most of all, having a radio playing in the background gives a construction site some atmosphere and helps keep everyone willing and active. So, let’s discuss work radios and how they differ from your average radio set without delay.
Rugged and Durable
You may be surprised to find that many brands offer specialist radios for such construction sites and other heavy industry applications. The main feature of these is that they are designed to be rugged, durable and not impact the important aspect of construction site safety. Many radios are made from strong and tough plastic; some are presented in a metal frame that protects them.
These radios are long-life appliances that will be strong enough to withstand the daily rigors of construction life. The DeWalt DCO12 is a good example of a workplace radio. Designed and made by one of the most respected tool makers globally, this clever radio also offers MP3 connectivity and is encased in a strong metal cage that will protect it from shock when in use. It also has a powerful battery, which brings us to our next point.
Battery Life
Batteries in these radios are not the sort you get off the shelf. Instead, the better models use the sort of long-life batteries found on power tools (most of the makers are, in fact, power tool manufacturers) which can be plugged into a charger when not in use. A good one should easily give you a full day’s use and more, and most of the models can also be plugged into a mains outlet.
The Bosch PB360C is regarded as one of the best of all and is from a world-renowned brand, and if you’re looking for a multifunctional radio, it also serves as a power strip for powering tool though such use will, of course, use the battery more quickly. For this reason, we suggest purchasing two batteries as you would with your portable power tools.
Portable and Moveable
While you need your workplace radio to be rugged, powerful, and with a long-lasting battery, you also need it to be portable and able to move from place to place. Bear in mind these are not pocket transistor radios but models designed for industrial use. They will be bigger and heavier than the standard sort of radio you are used to, but most are designed to be reasonably portable.
The DeWalt DWST17510 weighs around 13lb and is designed within a briefcase type outer that is TSTAK compatible. This clever model comes with full stereo sound, quality audio and is perfectly optimized for construction site use. This can be stacked with other TSTAK modules for added security and safety.
Water and Dust Resistant
A radio on a construction site must be dust and waterproof, or it won’t last long. These specially made workplace radios are designed with this in mind and come with the highest levels of water, dust, and shock proofing that can be achieved. Keeping dust and water out of the workings of radio is achieved by modern manufacturing processes.
The Makita XRN 09B is designed especially for this purpose and is ranked IP65 for dust and water protection, making it one of the best on the market for this feature.
Weather Alerts
As we mentioned earlier, weather and traffic alerts are important factors in scheduling construction work. Many of the radios designed for this purpose are specially tuned to interrupt local weather alerts. Local traffic alerts are also essential as they can affect supplies, and radio such as the Sangean U4 features RBDS weather alert function and digital tuning. It comes highly recommended by a range of satisfied users.
Conclusion
While radio will undoubtedly make the workplace more enjoyable for a tough and arduous shift, one of these dedicated workplace radios offers much more. Most come with integrated power points from which you can power tools, others have lights or torch features, and all offer fully functioning radios across a range of local and national channels.
We recommend that you read more about these excellent radios to get an idea of the functions available and find the one that suits your needs and fits your budget. We hope we’ve helped you know what to look for, so happy hunting and enjoy music while you work.
