Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to using heavy equipment in construction. To guarantee that your machinery is secure to use, there are a few essential steps you should take. Firstly, you should always apply the right technology and be aware of any underground or aerial hazards. Never enter or leave equipment that is in motion or running, and make sure to turn it off completely, engage the parking brake and release any pressure from the hydraulic controls.
Additionally, it's critical to carry your keys with you at all times to prevent any unauthorized use. It's also essential to have an observer assigned to each piece of heavy construction equipment. This observer serves as the operator's eyes and ears during work, as most heavy equipment has blind spots. For instance, forklifts need to be monitored to make sure that the load does not come loose and that there are no obstacles that the driver cannot see.
The detection of forklifts and other types of heavy equipment is an absolute necessity for proper safety. Cutting corners should never be an option, as it increases the risk of accidents. Full-time observers must be employed for any piece of heavy equipment. Before loading or unloading, make sure your heavy equipment is on level ground. This reduces the chances of the vehicle rolling or slipping.
Have someone act as an observer to ensure that people are away from your loading or unloading area. Assess the amount of heavy equipment involved and be sure to include any additional construction equipment that isn't needed initially, but may become necessary in case something unexpected happens. It's also important to follow detailed instructions for safe operation and exposure reduction, such as standard operating procedures (SOP). Skid steers are versatile and highly maneuverable machines that are indispensable for the movement of small and medium-sized materials. Lower-order hazard controls communicate the necessary precautions for workers to be safe near potentially hazardous equipment. Each piece of heavy equipment should have a checklist containing all of the above information related to the operation and general safety of the site.
It's vital that heavy equipment operators maintain continuous communication with each other, with ground personnel and their supervisors. The functions of the Salus application allow you to process forms, integrate safety standard checklists, provide compliance management tools and monitor safety compliance at construction sites from anywhere. When operating heavy equipment, you should consider the area in which you are working and any obstacles you may encounter. Operators should also be instructed to always wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job. The rollover protection system installed on the equipment is designed to keep it safe in such a case.
It's important to know what your equipment is capable of, whether you're near a large excavator on a commercial construction site, working with a motor grader in the road construction industry, or operating a skid steer loader on a residential renovation project. If you are moving or operating machinery close to workers, use an observer, using radio or manual signals to communicate, to keep blind spots clear. Continue to emphasize the need to learn and update training to ensure that your crew can remain safe while using even the newest equipment. Ideally, all observers should have the necessary qualifications to use the equipment they are looking for, in addition to the practical experience needed to know where blind spots or similar problems may be.
