Heavy Equipment Operator Safety Tips

christianaantiga

posted on 10 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Each year, during road construction only over 20,000 workers are injured in work zones. Moreover, additional one hundred fatalities are also there. These are most often a result of rollovers, back overs, collisions, fires etc. Of all these heavy equipment incidents, 35% result due to contact with equipment.

Many of such incidents are avoidable by following simple safety measures. This high number of reported injuries and fatalities as a result of heavy equipment is on rise. In an effort to decrease incidents involving the operation of heavy equipment, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some tips to make sure such incidents are reduced.

Avoid Blind Spots

It is critical that heavy equipment operators know that there is no one and nothing behind them before they back up. In order to avoid blind spots, the operator must physically get out of the machine and go to the back to look. Mirrors cannot always provide a 360-degree breadth of vision. Therefore, it is important to realize the short time it takes to hop off the machine and look may save a life.

Maintain Constant Communication

It is crucial that operators of heavy equipment like used dozers for sale maintain continuous communication with each other, with the ground crew, and their supervisors. Two-way radios are one of the best way to do this.

Wear Seat Belts

In every vehicle, it is vital to wear seat belts. This holds equally as true for heavy equipment as for cars and trucks. If the vehicle rolls, wearing a seat belt also keeps the operator from being thrown away from it. Seat belts very often save lives. Employers need to provide proper seat belts in heavy equipment as part of the rules for worker protective gear.

Load and Unload Safely

Before loading or unloading, it needs to be made sure the heavy equipment is sitting on level ground. This decreases the chances of vehicle rolling or sliding. Having someone act as a spotter in order to make sure people are standing far away from loading or unloading area.

Do a Pre-Work Check for Hazards

Before beginning work on any site, it is important to conduct a visual check for overhead and underground dangers, such as gas lines, and hydro wires. All of these need to be be flagged for identification. Digging with a shovel in case underground obstructions are close. Wherever holes are there, set up barriers in order to avoid workers or visitors inadvertently falling into them.

Know and Obey Load Limits

It is important to know load limits for size and weight in order for the equipment set up. the load needs to be secured using correct attachments. Carrying out a visual check of rigging in order to inspect fraying or breakage regularly. Before moving any load, it is important to ensure workers are safely out of way.

Recognize Your Physical and Emotional Limits

For your safety and the safety of co-workers, you need to never put yourself in a situation of doing a task that you feel physically, mentally, emotionally incapable. It is important to be careful in stressful job situations and in such cases asking for clearer instructions or requesting for a spotter can help. You can also request that a more experienced operator should complete a specific part of the job.

It is important that all workers come to the job alert, productive, and optimistic. If the workers are stressed, distracted, depressed they would tend to make poor judgement calls, which can lead to fatal injuries. Being part of a positive, productive work environment is essential in avoiding workplace incidents.

Avoid Unexpected Start-Up

Before completing maintenance on heavy equipment in which unexpected start-up can cause injury or death, the vehicle needs to be made inoperative by making sure to disconnect the power source.

OSHA's lockout tagout guidelines outlines specific practices and procedures that need to be followed to safely shut down equipment. These procedures are intended to separate the machine from its energy source therefore preventing potential hazardous start-up during maintenance procedures.

Conduct a Daily Inspection

Before using heavy equipment every day, do a thorough inspection. Use a paper or computer checklist. When the checklist is completed, report any concerns to maintenance.