According to a report by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), out of 4,674 worker fatalities in the private industry in 2017, more than 20% were in the construction industry, which equates to one in five worker deaths. According to the report, the main cause of these accidents include falls, struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught between heavy equipment.
With the construction industry in GCC growing at an unprecedented pace, it is always advisable to pay a more robust attention to health and safety management, especially while operating heavy machinery. It has been noted by industry specialists that recent developments and regulations have definitely helped drive a positive change in behaviour combined with international companies driving their own global standards.
In light of this, MECN looks at ten tips that can adopted by companies for safely operating heavy machinery.
Conduct Visual Inspection
Conducting daily inspections can avoid or to an extent, reduce disasters while operating heavy machinery due to faulty equipment. Operators must conduct a thorough visual inspection before using the equipment by taking a lap around the machine and checking for any damage inside the cab. They must also be careful to check for other factors such as tire pressure, fluid levels, engine oil, etc. If a problem has been noted, it must be resolved immediately, while the machine is in a parking position. Maintenance services as well as securing attachments and making sure that moving parts are working well should be conducted thoroughly, and if it’s outside the area of an operator’s expertise, it must be performed by professionals.
Mandatory use of PPE
Workers must be trained to wear the right personal protective equipment when operating heavy equipment, including hard hats, eyewear, gloves and steel-toed boots. Certain sites also require ear protection to protect workers from prolonged exposure to loud noise due to the equipment in use. Other protective gear includes visibility clothing, fall protection equipment, and breathing apparatuses around dust and contaminants. It must be noted that protective equipment should be mandated at sites. Moreover, workers must be trained never to ignore their seatbelt. Seatbelts can save operators if the heavy equipment tips over or in case of severe bangs and jostle, especially considering that most of the accidents at site are due to preventable human errors.
Adequate Training
Operators and employees who work around heavy machinery must be adequately trained and informed about its hazards; training can be conducted in a formal setting like requiring a licence, or an experienced supervisor can also provide it. Supervisors and site managers must also conduct inspections at regular intervals and encourage operators to be vigilant while operating heavy equipment. Operators must understand that learning proper safety practices early in their career will make it easier for them to sustain a safe and incident-free worksite as a heavy equipment operator.
Mounting and Dismounting
OSHA has documented that violations of its fall protection standards for construction were the most cited kind of OSHA violations in 2018. Keeping this in mind, workers must exercise caution when getting in and out of heavy equipment. Workers should be educated in the ‘three-point contact’ mounting and dismounting method, which states that maintaining three points of contact at all times is essential for safe movements. It can be a combination of two hands and one feet or vice versa. Additionally, workers must ensure that they have a good grip and use hand holes wherever necessary as well as steps all the time. Unnecessary equipment must not be carried into the cab, and the machine must never be dismounted while it’s moving.
Organising a Safe Work Area
Relying on spotters while operating heavy machinery is a critical step that will aid in a multitude of situations. They are necessary if one is operating around fellow workers, backing up or loading onto a trailer, and spotters must be trained in correct hand signals. Additionally, as part of an operator’s daily duties, topping up fuel levels on each machine must be conducted in a controlled environment. Keeping the work zone clear and blocking off dangerous areas will prevent others from entering these areas and keeping them signed off as limited-access zones. Workers should also be given enough information about terrain, underground utilities, and other impediments.
Communicate Effectively
It is vital to have safety policies and procedures in place and for all operators to be aware of this by continually communicating this with them. It must be emphasised that everyone working around heavy equipment must familiarise themselves with the manufacturer’s handbook and safety tips and proper usage techniques. While handling the machine, operators must be aware of blind spots and communicate that with the fellow workers. The team on-site must have access to walkie talkies, radios, or any system to communicate and share relevant information among all their members effectively.
Maintain Load Limit
Operators must never be forced to carry a heavier load than what the machine is capable of, to speed up the construction process. Doing this will either cause damage to the equipment, or overturn the equipment due to the excess weight, putting lives in danger. Operators must be educated about the varying load limits depending on brand, size and engine power. Some of the safety measures are ensuring that outriggers are in place while lifting material or equipment as well as knowing the payload and lift capacity of the machine. Operators must also ensure that each lifted load is secured correctly using rigging attachments. Finally, make sure that loading and unloading area is clear and other team members are at a safe distance.
Use Equipment as Intended
One must make sure that they are using the right equipment for a specific task, each piece of equipment along with its attachments are meant for a particular job and workers must be trained to use the right machine for each job. For instance, a loader must only be used lift, carry and transport materials around a construction site. It is not capable of digging and is challenging to operate on uneven ground, soft road surface and steep slope. Furthermore, it is not advisable to overload or overwork the machinery since it will lead to damage or even a breakdown. While it maybe be attractive and resourceful in the short-term to find multiple uses for one piece of machinery, trusting the manufacturer and adhering to their recommendations will keep workers safe in the long-run.
Perform Preventative Maintenance
Besides walk-around and regular maintenance, preventive maintenance must be done regularly or as stated in the manufacturer’s manual. Being proactive with heavy equipment maintenance will help prevent expensive downtime as well as costly repair charges. This also helps anticipate wear and tear and that corrective actions are taken on time. It involves system inspections, modification and replacement of components as well as performance testing and analysis. It has been noted that a successful preventive maintenance program will extend the life of heavy equipment as well as minimise equipment breakdown.
Incident Management Plan
Supervisors and site managers must have an incident management plan ready at all times since one cannot predict when an accident will occur. The plan must also have resources to identify, analyse, and correct any hazards to avoid future occurrence of similar instances. Additionally, the plan will also help fix distraction and help the workers immediately after an accident occurs. Furthermore, incident management software can record, track, and analyse various safety incidents, such as near misses and vehicle accidents. This makes it easier to collect data as well as report an incident from the site.