According to US Department of Labor reports, the death toll of construction workers continues to increase every year. There are numerous dangerous factors at a construction site that workers need to be extremely cautious of while working. Most construction deaths can be attributed to falls, getting struck by something, or electrocution. A lot of construction workers also end up getting caught between objects, resulting in their deaths.
By simply eliminating these causes of death, you would be able to save a lot of lives every year. To reduce the death toll of construction workers, heavy equipment operators should go back to the basics of equipment operation. The guidelines below are a good start to accomplishing that.
Educate Before You Operate
It is important that heavy equipment operators get a proper education and understand how the machine works before they try to operate it. Operators need to be able to understand the instructions provided in the operation manual. Operators should be aware of the importance of the safety guidelines that are provided. If they fail to maintain the equipment properly or do not replace the worn out and damaged parts of the equipment, it is likely to cause a disruption and could end up being extremely dangerous. If you notice any damaged or missing parts, contact your equipment dealer for a replacement immediately.
Protective Clothing
It is important to wear proper protective clothing when you are working with heavy equipment. Protective clothing and safety devices are a great way of ensuring worker safety at a construction worksite. Wearing loose clothes can be dangerous as they can catch on controls or other moving parts of the machine. Wear whatever protective clothing is necessary for the task you are performing such as hard hats, safety shoes, and glasses.
Understand the Worksite
Before you start working on a project, be sure to get a feel for the site that you will be working on and look for any potentially dangerous spots or tricky areas. Before operating machinery, operators should take a look around the worksite to ensure that there is no one present who should not be there. Make sure to use traffic cones and barrier tape to keep others out of the work area.
Perform a Visual Inspection
As an operator, you need to make sure that your machine is in perfect condition before you start operating it. Take a few minutes to perform a visual inspection and look for any potential issues before you start operating the equipment. See if there are any broken or missing parts that need to be replaced or if there are any leaks that need to be repaired.
Equipment Maintenance
Equipment operators should know how to properly maintain their machinery. It falls on the operator to ensure that the equipment they are using is in its top condition. Make sure to check the lubrication charts and see all the instructions provided on the machine. As an operator, you need to ensure that the equipment is serviced regularly.
These are a few basics of equipment operation that every operator should know about before they start working on a project. To reduce the likelihood of any accidents, it is important that heavy equipment operators follow proper safety guidelines. By doing so, health and safety can be greatly enhanced.