When Working Around Heavy Equipment on a Construction Site, Here Are Some Safety Tips
Throughout the course of a building project, the types of equipment employed will change. Workers on foot will be transporting equipment, excavating holes, and working on scaffolds, thus mini excavators, skid steers, and trenchers will be used.
Keeping everyone safe during the working helps to prevent potentially fatal incidents. Operators can be crushed by rolling equipment, ground employees can be struck by swinging equipment, and pedestrians can be hit by machines approaching or exiting the workplace.
To avoid mishaps, operators must guarantee that their machines are utilized correctly all of the time. When working around these large machinery, all personnel should follow the construction safety precautions below.
AN IN-DEPTH INSTRUCTION FOR OPERATORS
Operators should be instructed on all safety protocols for the individual machine before being placed in the driver’s seat for heavy equipment. The operator must have both classroom and hands-on experience with how to properly start the equipment, recognize dangers that could cause the machine to operate in a hazardous manner, and understand the heavy equipment’s safety features.
Operators should also be aware of the heavy equipment’s load and lift capacities to avoid the hydraulic systems malfunctioning or the machine toppling over.
INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT
The equipment may be destroyed or the functioning parts may be subjected to excessive wear and tear. Before being put to use, each piece of heavy equipment should be inspected. Look for problems in all hydraulic systems, cab controls, lighting, safety features, and tires.
If a driver notices a problem, such as a worn mini excavator track, the machine should be taken out of operation right once. To complete the work efficiently, have a maintenance team or operators on site who are familiar with changing a mini excavator track.
In order to complete a project on time, never put defective equipment back into use. Decommission heavy equipment if components aren’t available or the unit can’t be fully repaired to operational requirements. Pushing failing machinery to their limits only increases the risk of a workplace accident, which could result in a worker’s injury or death.
SPOTTERS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVERY
Building SITE Spotters are required for every construction site. They give heavy equipment operators and ground personnel visual and verbal indications to ensure that everyone has enough open space to move and perform properly. Spotters also assist operators in removing blind spots so that heavy equipment can travel without colliding with a worker or pedestrian. A spotter should wear brightly colored clothing to increase visibility and know how to safely steer heavy equipment about the workplace using hand gestures.
AWARENESS AT THE WORKPLACE
While deploying spotters can help heavy equipment operators avoid blind spots while moving or swinging their machines, the operator should always be aware of their surroundings. Underground wires, gas lines, and water pipelines should be identified or have barriers installed to keep the equipment from coming into direct contact with them. When working with above electrical wires, the wires should be de-energized, moved, or barriers should be installed to prevent any unintended contact.
When swinging the cab, operators should be mindful of how much clearance their vehicle has. There should be adequate room to avoid striking workers and passersby, as well as preventing the machine from colliding with any structures or scaffolding. Also, if at all possible, avoid impediments on the ground. While Heavy Duty equipment tracks and tires can travel over a variety of surfaces and debris, materials can shift beneath the equipment on uneven or wet terrain, causing the heavy equipment to slip.
USE EQUIPMENT FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE
Multifunctionality is a feature of several heavy equipment. Because the machines can do so many things, the contractor can save money by using fewer pieces of equipment. However, just because heavy equipment can accomplish tasks with a variety of attachments does not mean it should be employed for every job on the job site.
Only utilize heavy equipment for what it was designed for. When operating a larger machine, never overload tiny heavy equipment. When raising workers into the air, never use other pieces of equipment as aerial lifts, such as having personnel stand in the bucket attachment on an excavator or a wheel loader.
SAFETY ON THE WORKSITE IN RELATION TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
The size, type of equipment employed, and jobs that must be completed will all affect the cost of a construction project. To handle the hazards that may occur at each location, safety procedures and protocols should be devised. Then, to ensure that everyone understands their roles in maintaining a safe and functional jobsite, all workers should be extensively instructed on these practices.
Source : Construction Executive
