23 Dec Don’t Get Caught in the Crush

Don’t Get Caught in the Crush

Crushing and caught-between injuries occur when a worker or part of the worker’s body is caught, squeezed, pinned, or compressed between objects. These incidents can occur suddenly and often result in severe injuries, including fractures, amputations, permanent disability, or death.

Crush hazards are common around mobile equipment, machinery, suspended loads, materials, vehicles, and equipment being serviced or repaired. Recognizing these hazards and staying out of the danger zone are essential.

Recognize Crush and Pinch Points

Before beginning work, identify areas where movement could trap or crush someone. Common hazards include:

• Moving equipment and stationary structures.
• Vehicles backing or maneuvering in congested areas.
• Rotating or moving machinery.
• Equipment with articulating or pivoting components.
• Suspended or elevated loads.
• Materials being stacked, moved, or unloaded.
• Hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanically raised equipment.
• Doors, gates, hatches, and other moving components.
• Equipment that could unexpectedly roll, shift, lower, or move.

Never place your hands, feet, or body where unexpected movement could trap you.

Working Around Mobile Equipment

Operators may have significant blind spots. Never assume an operator can see you.

When working around vehicles or mobile equipment:

• Stay out of equipment operating zones unless your work requires entry.
• Establish communication with the operator before approaching.
• Remain visible to the operator whenever possible.
• Stay clear of backing equipment and swing-radius areas.
• Obey barricades and designated pedestrian routes.
• Never walk between moving equipment and a fixed object.
• Never position yourself where you could be pinned if equipment moves unexpectedly.
• Follow established spotter and signal-person procedures when required.

If you lose visual contact with the operator, assume the operator has also lost sight of you.

Stay Clear of Suspended Loads

A suspended load can fall, shift, swing, rotate, or unexpectedly move.

Never:

• Stand or walk beneath a suspended load.
• Position yourself between a suspended load and a stationary object.
• Place your hands or body where a shifting load could trap you.
• Attempt to physically stop a swinging or rotating load.

Use tag lines or other approved methods when necessary to control loads while maintaining a safe distance.

Control Hazardous Energy

Before cleaning, adjusting, servicing, repairing, clearing a jam, or reaching into machinery, protect yourself against unexpected startup or movement.

When applicable:

• Shut down the equipment.
• Isolate all hazardous energy sources.
• Apply required lockout/tagout (LOTO) devices.
• Release, restrain, or otherwise control stored energy.
• Block or secure components that could fall, move, rotate, or collapse.
• Verify that energy isolation is effective before beginning work.

Turning off a machine or pressing an emergency stop does not necessarily mean the equipment is safe to work on.

Never Trust Raised Equipment

Hydraulic or pneumatic pressure can be lost without warning. Never work beneath or between raised equipment unless it has been properly supported or blocked with devices designed and rated for the load.

Do not rely solely on hydraulic cylinders, jacks, hoists, or other lifting mechanisms to protect you from unexpected movement.

Remember

Crush injuries happen when a worker enters the line of fire and something moves unexpectedly. Maintain safe clearance, stay visible to equipment operators, keep clear of suspended loads, and control hazardous energy before placing any part of your body in a danger zone.

If it can move, fall, swing, roll, or shift—keep yourself out of its path.