If you want to ensure the safety of your workers, you need to train them properly so that they can recognize any potential hazards immediately. Your workers need to be able to recognize any signs of danger that are associated with excavation. If in the process of excavation your workers are involved in a tense situation, you need to also be able to de-escalate the situation before any real damage can occur. The following are a few things that will help in preventing excavation accidents by de-escalating any tense encounters that your workers may have.
Recognize Potential Hazards
If you are going to be excavating around a new worksite, you need to take your time to carefully examine your surroundings. Excavation poses a threat to utility lines, and if the environment is not safe, your workers will also be at risk. Sometimes, an aggressive worker can do more damage with hand-digging equipment than a calm operator would do with an excavator. Make sure to keep an eye on all the employees working in the area and see that they are not agitated while handling equipment.
Quick Assessment
Sometimes, a situation is too out of hand and de-escalation is impossible. If you recognize that is in fact the case, you need to make a quick decision and remove yourself from the vicinity. However, if you think that it is possible to de-escalate the situation, you still need to stay alert because it could change at any moment. Whether the conversation is going well or not, you need to be on your guard if you want to be safe.
Get to the Heart of the Matter
Usually, these tense encounters result from underlying issues that have not been resolved. You need to get to the heart of the matter and find out whether it is fear, apprehension, or something else that has resulted in the current situation. Once you can identify what the heart of the problem is, you can deal with it more appropriately. For instance, if it is simply an apprehensive person you are dealing with, you will need to provide proof that you are reliable and can be trusted.
Non-Confrontational Language
During an already tense situation, saying the wrong thing can make the situation a lot worse. You need to be respectful and choose your words carefully when dealing with people in such situations. Make sure to remain calm and listen to what the excavator operators are saying. By acknowledging their concerns in a calm and collected manner, you will have an easier time getting through to them.
Do not make any gestures or statements that can be construed as aggressive and make the situation even worse. Also, make sure to report your experience of every tense encounter. This will allow you to judge their frequency and what causes them. If you do not have a proper report, you will not be able to prevent such situation in the future. Finding an excavator or dozer for sale is the easy part with websites like Equipment Anywhere. Training employees in a manner that prevents any accidents is the hard part.