Working on or around mobile equipment such as scrapers, blades, dozers, and haul trucks to name a few, presents a unique set of risk factors that could cause death or serious injury. To reduce these risks, workers must exercise proper planning and training to include the use of the right equipment for the task at hand.
Before work begins, hazards around the project must be identified and plans made for avoidance or elimination. Consideration to ground conditions should be given as well to ensure that the ground will support the equipment needed to do the job. Weather can affect ground conditions too, so ongoing evaluations must occur throughout the workday and particularly during and after severe weather.
For operators, make sure they are conducting pre-operation inspections of their equipment including a 360° walk-around and document any conditions that could make the equipment defective or unsafe. Unsafe equipment must be taken out-of-service until it can be restored to good operational condition.
When mounting or dismounting equipment, operators must always be facing the equipment and using three points of contact between their feet and hands. They should also take care to remove any mud, ice, or other substances from the ladder or their boots prior to use.
Operators must continually maintain control of their equipment. And seat belts must always be worn when operating mobile equipment. To prevent tip-overs, train operators to slow down prior to entering a turning maneuver and not to turn when on inclined ramps or surfaces. In the event of a tip over, operators must be trained “not” to jump off the machine and to brace themselves while leaning away from the direction of the tip over to reduce head and bodily injuries.
Keep the area clear of personnel not directly involved in the work. Communication between ground personnel and equipment operators is critical. Ground personnel must always contact equipment operators prior to working in the area. Use of ground spotters can prevent accidents due to blind spots and control unauthorized access by others. In addition, ground personnel should always make eye contact with operators prior to crossing or accessing any area around Mobile Equipment.
For more information on Mobile Equipment Safety, safety questions or concerns, please contact PGM Safety Services, an affiliate company of Pro Group Management. We will be happy to assist when you visit us at www.pgmnv.com or call (800) 859-3177.
