Safety Tips for Working Around Heavy Equipment in Construction

As someone working in the construction industry, you understand the necessity of heavy equipment. From demolition to road construction, heavy equipment can be an essential part of a project. While it is necessary to many construction jobs, using heavy equipment can also lead to injuries, and sometimes even death. It is important to remain vigilant with safety practices, especially as using heavy equipment can become routine.

General Safety Tips for Working Around Heavy Equipment 

•  By designating a worker to be a spotter for a machine operator, that worker can communicate information on possible hazards that may be in blind spots or other areas. Be sure the spotter and equipment operator are both trained in hand signals. 
• To avoid machines having to back up, consider creating a path site plan for vehicles and deliveries.
• Regularly maintain and inspect equipment according to manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Train workers on situational awareness.

Safety Tips for Equipment Operators 

• Provide training to equipment operators. There are many different types of heavy equipment, and each come with their own controls and safety features. Be sure your equipment operators are familiar with the machine they are operating, and provide access to an owner’s manual. You may start by letting operators perform a basic task several times before moving on to more complicated operations. Be sure you are providing regular training to employees who may need a refresher.  
• Inspect heavy equipment before use. Look for leaks, check headlights, brake lights, and brake systems. Be sure the backup alarm is working, as well as the horn. Check any other necessary functions.
• Be sure operators are wearing seatbelts while operating the equipment, even if they only plan on operating it for a short period of time.
• When climbing off or on to a piece of heavy equipment, operators should maintain three points of contact and face the machine.
• Mirrors should be adjusted and operators should be familiar with where there are blind spots.
• Never operate equipment when taking medications that could cause drowsiness.
• Before leaving a piece of equipment, the operator should turn off the engine and engage the brakes.
• Operators should wear appropriate PPE for their job, including but not limited to: steel toed boots, ear protection, eye protection, head protection, gloves, and high visibility clothing.

Safety Tips for Ground Workers 

• Plan to work in an area away from heavy equipment.
• Wear appropriate PPE for your job, including high-visibility clothing.
• Be sure the equipment operator sees you before approaching the vehicle, and learn universal hand signals.
• Avoid walking under suspended loads.

Tips for Nighttime Construction Safety 

Working at night can significantly reduce visibility for ground workers and equipment operators. However, when projects need to meet a deadline, it may be necessary.

• Provide workers with bright gear such as reflective vests and head protection with reflective strips.
• Provide proper lighting at night. This can include floodlights, and vehicle mounted lighting systems. Adjust lighting angles to reduce glare.
• Consider keeping water trucks at your site to reduce dust, which can impair visibility.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.