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Dangers That Come with Working with Heavy Machinery and How to Avoid Them

heavy equipment movers

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

How Do You Move A Heavy Machine?

Do you have a heavy machine and you are wondering how you can move it? There are plenty of ways to go about it. Some of these ways include:

Using a bulldozer

The bulldozer is an excellent machine to move your heavy machinery. The beauty of it is that it’s powerful, so it will easily push the heavy weight to your desired location.

If you are doing the moving yourself, you will need to hire a bulldozer from your local heavy machinery movers. When doing it, be cautious of the one you choose.

You have two options: track or wheeled dozer.

From the name, a track dozer has tracks instead of wheels, which makes it an excellent choice when looking to move your heavy machine in soft soil.

On the other hand, a wheeled bulldozer does everything a tracked bulldozer can but on nice solid ground. This means you should go for this when you want to move your heavy machine on decent ground.

There is no right or wrong bulldozer that you can use. It all depends on the equipment you are moving and the conditions of your location.

Utility machine skates

These are perfect for moving machines of medium load, and they make excellent alternatives for cranes or forklifts.

When using the skates, remember that they have a weight capacity of 37.5 tons. They also work best when moving your heavy machinery in straight lines or turns.

Roller dollies

These are best suited for heavy but not oversized equipment. There are a variety of dollies in the market, so take your time and find one that is right for you.

Their beauty is that they require less power as they have a central load-bearing plate. These dollies can move up to 15 tons and rotate to 360 degrees when properly maintained.

When moving your machinery using the dollies, always use a ratchet strap to help secure the equipment and prevent accidents.

Crane

A crane is an excellent choice if you are moving your machinery up or over a short distance. Like dollies, many types of cranes are in the market designed for different applications.

For example, if you are looking to move your heavy equipment upwards, a tower crane would be the ideal choice, but if looking to move it vertically over a short distance, a mobile crane would be the best choice.

If you aren’t sure about the right crane to get, seek the services of an expert.

A plan

No, this is not a machine you can use to move your heavy machinery, but you need an expert plan to move your unit.

You need to know the right unit to accomplish your work and the right route, among many other details. Remember that without a solid plan, you will lose time, money, and plenty of opportunities to be strategic in how you go about it.

Again, if this is your first time going about it, get the input of a professional.

To get your machinery to your desired venue on time and with as little disturbance as possible, plan to move it when there is little traffic. An ideal time would be on the weekends when most people are in their homes.

You also should always take the shortest distance possible.

To avoid complications, have all the necessary paperwork before you begin the big move. You don’t want to put your machine on the side of the road upon realizing that you don’t have some vital documents.

You will always have risks when moving heavy machinery, so you can’t avoid them. The best you can do is to prepare for it. A good rule of thumb is to have insurance for the machine.

This way, you are sure that in the event of an accident, your insurance company will step in and settle it. You don’t want to be in a situation where you leave everything to fate, as things sometimes don’t go as planned.

Parting shot

These are tricks on how to move your heavy machinery. You can move the machine yourself but work closely with expert heavy equipment movers VA for the best outcome.