11 Jan Heavy Equipment Hazards

Heavy Equipment Hazards

Heavy equipment is essential on many construction sites, but its size, weight, power, and limited visibility can create serious struck-by, caught-between, crushing, electrical, and rollover hazards. Safe operations require trained operators, effective communication, controlled work areas, and constant awareness by everyone working nearby.

Guide for Discussion

Employees Working Around Heavy Equipment

• Remain alert to the location and movement of equipment at all times.
• Only trained and authorized personnel may operate heavy equipment.
• Stay outside established equipment operating zones unless your work requires entry.
• Never assume an operator can see you. Stay out of blind spots and establish eye contact or other positive communication with the operator before approaching.
• Never walk or stand beneath suspended loads, raised buckets, booms, blades, forks, or other elevated equipment components.
• Stay clear of swing radiuses, articulation points, pinch points, and equipment travel paths.
• Never position yourself between moving equipment and a fixed object.
• Do not ride on equipment unless it is designed by the manufacturer to carry passengers and is equipped with an approved seat and restraint system.
• Wear required high-visibility apparel when exposed to moving vehicles or equipment.
• Obey barricades, warning signs, exclusion zones, flaggers, and spotters.
• Never rest, sit, eat, or take breaks beneath, beside, or within the operating area of heavy equipment.

Equipment Operators

Operators must:

• Conduct a pre-use inspection and report safety-related defects.
• Verify that brakes, steering, lights, horns, mirrors, cameras, backup alarms, seat belts, and other safety devices are functioning properly.
• Wear the seat belt when operating equipment equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS) and seat belt.
• Check the work area for pedestrians, equipment, excavations, unstable surfaces, overhead hazards, and other obstructions before beginning operations.
• Maintain control of the equipment and operate at a speed appropriate for the terrain, visibility, traffic, and jobsite conditions.
• Use a spotter or other appropriate protective measures when the operator’s view of the travel path is obstructed.
• Stop immediately if communication with a designated spotter is lost.
• Keep employees clear of suspended loads and equipment swing areas.
• Lower attachments and place equipment in a safe condition before leaving the operator’s position.
• Secure equipment against unauthorized operation when unattended or at the end of the shift.

Backing Operations

Backing equipment presents a significant struck-by hazard. Operators should avoid unnecessary backing whenever practical.

Before backing:

• Check the entire travel path.
• Ensure backup alarms and other warning devices are operational.
• Use mirrors and cameras where provided, while recognizing their limitations.
• Use a spotter when visibility is restricted or required by site procedures.
• Stop operations whenever a worker enters the equipment’s travel path or blind spot.

Employees on foot must never rely solely on a backup alarm to warn them that equipment is approaching.

Overhead Power Lines

Heavy equipment, cranes, booms, dump bodies, and other elevated components can contact or approach energized overhead power lines.

• Identify overhead electrical hazards before operations begin.
• Maintain the minimum clearance required by applicable OSHA standards and the voltage of the power line.
• Do not automatically use 10 feet for every power line. Ten feet is generally the minimum clearance for lines up to 50 kV under applicable construction requirements; greater clearances are required at higher voltages.
• Treat overhead lines as energized unless the utility owner/operator confirms they have been de-energized and visibly grounded as required.
• Use designated spotters and other protective measures when equipment could encroach upon required clearance distances.

Maintenance and Repairs

Before employees lubricate, adjust, clean, service, or repair equipment:

• Shut down the equipment and control hazardous energy in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Lower attachments to the ground whenever possible.
• Block or otherwise securely support raised equipment components before working beneath them.
• Relieve stored hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, or other hazardous energy as required.
• Never rely solely on hydraulic pressure to support a raised attachment.
• Replace all guards and protective devices before returning equipment to service.
• Never bypass or defeat equipment safety devices.

Equipment Condition

Operators should inspect the cab, windows, mirrors, and protective structures and report damage that could affect safe operation. Broken or damaged windows that interfere with visibility or operator protection should be repaired before continued operation when necessary for safe use.

Equipment must not be operated when a safety-related defect creates a hazard.

Remember

Heavy equipment can move quickly and operators may not be able to see employees nearby. Stay visible, stay clear of blind spots and swing areas, respect exclusion zones, and never place yourself between moving equipment and a fixed object.