It is no secret that driving heavy equipment is risky business. The risk is magnified when you are backing up with a machine like a grader. Due to the large size of the machine, seeing what is happening behind it can prove to be difficult. This is the reason why a huge number of accidents that happen on a worksite occur due to the driver making a mistake while backing up.
While the vehicle designs have improved a lot over the years with the help of new technology, they cannot completely eliminate the room for error. It is essential that the operators of heavy machinery learn all the safety principles before operating the equipment. Doing so will allow them to exercise good judgment while working.
Safety Measures to Take When Backing Up a Vehicle
When you are working with heavy equipment, it is best to avoid backing up as much as you can. You could try parking in a place where you will have to simply drive forward in order to exit. However, if backing up is unavoidable, you can be safe before you reverse by exiting the vehicle and walking around the equipment to see the route you are planning on reversing for yourself. By doing this, you will be able to see any potential obstacles that would not have been visible from the driver’s seat.
There are a few other things that you can do to ensure safety while backing up with heavy equipment. For instance, you should make sure that you are aware of all the blind spots of the machine so nothing will take you by surprise. Also, it is important to turn off your phone or anything else that could distract you. If the equipment you are using has technology which can spot and alert you of any obstacles nearby, make use of this technology but do not rely on it completely. Whenever you are backing up a machine and have low visibility or obstructed view, make sure to have a spotter guide you through it. Lastly, whenever you are backing up a vehicle, do so slowly and no faster than a person walks. Reversing fast with heavy equipment can increase the risk of accidents and can cause serious harm.
How Do Spotters Communicate?
Having a spotter on site can be very helpful, especially when you are reversing your vehicle. They can use hand signals to communicate with the driver and prevent any accidents from happening. It is important to remember as the operator, however, that it is you who is ultimately responsible for the equipment and its safe operation, even if there is a spotter present to guide you.
Spotter Safety
If at any time while driving you realize that you cannot see the spotter, pause the operation at once. Losing sight of the spotter could mean that he is behind the vehicle and reversing in that situation could result in the machine backing into the spotter or even running them over. Spotters are advised to wear high visibility clothing so the driver can spot them easily even from a distance. They are also advised against using any cell phones or anything that could distract them from the job.