If you work with heavy machinery or supervise personnel who do, know the inherent risks involved with the tasks.
Understanding the hazards involved and taking the necessary actions to mitigate them is paramount as it helps keep individuals safe.
To help you out, here are five of the most severe threats, as well as the necessary precautions you should take to protect yourself:
Heavy equipment transport accidents
Heavy equipment must frequently be moved between places. For example, you might need to move the equipment from one site to another. While this is good, the unfortunate thing is that accidents can occur for those in transit or those close if you do not take the necessary precautions.
Heavy equipment accidents usually happen due to carelessness or using the wrong moving equipment.
To stay safe when undertaking heavy machinery moving, it is critical to have a well-balanced load. To avoid tipping, ensure the load is appropriately centered and sits between the trailer’s wheels.
Before leaving, you should plan your route. Narrow bridges, underpasses, and unfinished surfaces on the road can all pose unwelcome but avoidable obstacles.
The same may be said about current roadwork. Knowing what a route includes beforehand allows you to plan accordingly to stay safe.
Planning also makes it possible for you to move the heavy equipment with ease and without causing a lot of commotion.
Getting crushed or run over
Heavy equipment’s weight, size, and power endangers persons who could be crushed between moving parts or run over by a machine.
Both awareness and visibility lessen the likelihood of both types of accidents. For example, training a worker to behave safely around a machine and ensuring the crew has appropriate high-visibility gear can go a long way.
Different organizations are trying to keep humans safe by using robotics and automation.
Experts in the industry have begun formulating related ideas and rules, such as the requirement that robots be safe and secure before working with people.
Some robots are also specifically intended to perform dangerous tasks that put people at an increased risk.
Heavy machinery that can be moved via remote controls is emerging and keeps people away from the danger zone.
Before you start working, you should ensure that you are visible and there are no blind spots in the areas you are working. If there are kids in the site you are working, keep them away from the danger zone.
Working without guards in place
Machine guards protect workers from potentially hazardous elements of a machine by shielding them from components that offer a high risk to them.
Some people, however, believe that the guarding interferes with the machine’s performance and removes it. This is wrong as it often leads to accidents that can quickly turn catastrophic.
Others know the importance of guards but don’t understand how to ensure they are present on the device before using it.
Always ensure the guards are in place before using the machine to be safe. Check the user manual if you aren’t sure whether your machine has a guard.
Operating equipment without proper training
Before operating heavy equipment, you must receive the appropriate training from a recognized provider. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Some people will receive basic training and then rush to operate the machine. This is wrong.
If the machine misbehaves, the poorly trained individuals don’t know what to do. The minimally trained individuals also don’t know what to do in an emergency.
To keep yourself and others safe, you should have the proper training. As a rule, you should only handle the heavy machinery after meeting multiple state-specific educational standards.
In most states, all construction workers must complete 10 hours of OSHA training. Superintendents, forepersons, and supervisors, on the other hand, require 30 hours.
You should practice as much as possible before working with the machine. This way, you not only do a good job but also prevent accidents from coming about.
Failing to learn the risks that come with heavy machinery
Coverage of the most prevalent OSHA standard violations emphasized the importance of avoiding employee exposure to hazards that are most likely to cause significant injury or death.
One of the most frequently reported general industry violations was a lack of a written hazard communication scheme.
Implementing precise protocols and procedures to inform individuals about the dangers contained in a task before they engage in it is what effective hazard communication entails.
Unfortunately, many people don’t engage in it, which, as you can tell, leads to an increased risk of injury or even death.
To minimize the risks, make it a habit of educating the people handling the machinery. It will even be better to remind them every morning about the risks involved and how to prevent them.
When operating a new machinery, educate the people using it and ensure they are conversant with it.
On the other hand, safety managers can help keep people safe by making them aware of the hazards through clear language and real-world examples.
Parting shot
These are some of the risks that come with using heavy machinery. While it’s impossible to eliminate the risks involved with big machinery, knowing the most severe hazards, enables all workers and safety personnel to adapt their behaviors and adjust training content as needed.
When transporting heavy machinery, don’t transport it by yourself or hire the first company you come across. Instead, ensure that the transportation is done by expert heavy equipment movers VA who know what they are doing.
These professionals will not only safely transport the machinery but also ensure that it reaches its destination quickly. The movers will also advise you on any permits you need during the transportation. a