Heavy Equipment Safety : Toolbox Meeting

Company Name __________________________ Job Name __________________________ Date________

HEAVY EQUIPMENT SAFETY

Operation of heavy equipment such as excavators, loaders, graders, rollers, and bulldozers, should always be done by highly skilled operators who have demonstrated the ability and necessary skills to operate safely. Ground-based workers should be trained in how to work safely around the equipment, and how to stay clear. Unsafe practices by either the operator or those around the equipment can create very dangerous situations. Serious injuries can occur if the equipment strikes a worker, or if the equipment is rolled over.

Here are a few common safety rules for operators and ground based workers to consider:

1) Good communication is essential. A standardized set of hand signals should be used by the operator and signal person. Operators should always know exactly where all ground based workers are located, and the wearing of high visibility vests will help the operator to locate them quickly. The equipment should have a back up warning alarm that can be heard by all nearby workers. Two-way radios are also valuable communication tools.

2) Heavy equipment must have a rollover protective structure (ROPS) meeting OSHA requirements. The ROPS is designed to protect the operator if the machine tips over. A seat belt must be worn so that the operator will not be thrown out of the seat during a rollover or upset situation. If working on slopes, try to avoid moving across the face of the slope. Try to operate up and down the slope face if possible. Use extreme caution when operating near open excavations.

3) Wear hearing protection when required. If it has been determined that noise levels around the equipment could potentially cause hearing loss, always use protective plugs or muffs when working on or around the equipment.

4) Never jump onto or off the equipment. Operators should always use the three-point contact rule when climbing onto or off heavy equipment. The three-point rule means having both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands in contact with the ladder access at all times.

5) Inspect and service the equipment regularly. Complete equipment service in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Periodic safety inspections on all components of the equipment should be done regularly by qualified personnel. Inspect the steering system and brake systems carefully. A pre-shift walk around inspection by the operator is highly recommended.

Injury accidents involving heavy equipment on construction sites have a higher probability of resulting in a fatality than many other types of accidents. It is critical to follow all of your company's safety rules and procedures when operating or working around heavy equipment.

Safety Recommendations:__________________________________________________________________________________

Job Specific Topics:_______________________________________________________________________________________

M.S.D.S Reviewed:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Attended By:

Daily Safety : Working At Height

Head for Heights?

Working at height describes work undertaken "off the ground". Commonly, it involves the use of scaffolds, ladders, hoists, gantries or general roof work.

Are You Safe?

Work on a roof is particularly dangerous. The level of controls will depend on whether the roof has edge protection or not, allied to the plant or roof lights that may be on it. A useful control measure is to ask contractors for a method statement covering the following - access and egress procedures, fall prevention, supervision levels and work equipment that may be used. Access to the roof must be restricted so doors leading to it must be kept locked and additional controls such as a Permit to Work may be appropriate. For unguarded roofs a safety barrier away from the edge should be used to identify the work areas and safe access routes. Walkways across the roof should have a barrier each side. Where plant or equipment is within 2 metres of an unprotected edge a barrier must be erected to prevent falls. Roofs constructed of fragile materials must be accessed only by use of roof ladders or crawling boards coupled with a fall arrest device.

Roof lights are a particular hazard, as they are not load bearing. These should be clearly marked or painted and be protected by barriers where possible.

Netting, sheeting or fans should be used to protect pedestrians from falling debris. It may also in certain circumstances be necessary to fence around the working area at ground level. Debris must never be thrown from height. Chutes or baskets must be used.

Other equipment used at height includes the use of scaffolds and ladders. Scaffolds may be fixed, tower or mobile.

Fixed scaffolds should be erected and inspected by a competent person and be secured to a permanent structure. They must be based on solid ground with working platforms wide enough to allow safe working. The platform must be capable of withstanding the loads put upon it. Guard rails and toe boards must be provided.

Tower and mobile scaffolds must in addition be erected with regard to the base to height ratio to ensure stability. Wheels and outriggers must be locked before use and the scaffold must not be moved with persons on board. The safe working loads marked on the base must never be exceeded.

Ladders may be fixed or freestanding. Ladders must be considered a second best option. Alternatives such as tower or mobile platforms provide a safer access. Fixed ladders must incorporate a landing no more than 6 metres apart and back hoops must be fitted more than 2.5 metres high. Ladders must be fitted with boarding or a device to prevent unauthorised access. Where the ladder provides access to an unprotected roof there must be barriers of at least two metres each side at roof level. Ladders must be checked before use looking for solid rungs and straight sides. Wooden ladders must never be painted. Boarding or cones must protect ladder feet. Any extensions must overlap by at least 3 rungs. Ladders must be secured by the use of eyebolts and hooks or by another person stabling/ footing the ladder if less than 5 metres in height. Always use the 1 in 4 rule i.e. 1 foot out for every 4 up and never work higher than one metre from the top rung.

Elevating platforms must never be left unattended when in use. Work must be undertaken from within the platform only and the platform must never be moved with people on board. Warning signage, cones or safety barriers must be placed around its base.

Window cleaners and building maintenance teams use access cradles. They are potentially dangerous and there must be a safe means of getting in and out of them. Operatives within must be harnessed at all times and if working over pedestrian routes tools must be secured by lanyards. There must be a means of communication between the cradle and the operators by mobile phone or a similar device.

Safety Google : Chainsaw

This article is about risk control methods specific to chainsaws and chainsaw operations. Chainsaws incorporate numerous safety features common to many engine-driven power tools. Manufacturers have invented numerous design features to improve safety. Some features have become de facto standards, and others are legal requirements in particular jurisdictions. Best practice dictates that an operator should inspect the saw before starting work and only operate the saw if all the safety features are properly functional.

Additional safety features are a significant commercial advantage to chainsaw producers. Companies continue to develop new features over time. Most chainsaw safety features are focused on the kickback problem, and seek to either avoid it (chain and bar design), or to reduce the risk of injury should it occur (chain brakes). In addition to the safety features built into the chainsaw, operators should also wear specific chainsaw safety clothing. Most older saws have few or none of these features, and extra care should be taken in their use.

Chain

The chain has to be properly matched to the guide bar and the saw. Chainsaw manufacturers specify a selection of suitable chains for each model of saw.

Best safety requires that the chain is properly sharpened. One key sharpening parameter is the depth gauge setting. The depth gauge is the small steel protuberance in front of each cutting tooth. The difference in height between the leading cutting edge and the depth gauge determines the thickness of the wood chip taken by the cutter. If the depth gauge is too low, the cutter takes too deep a bite from the wood, the saw becomes difficult to control and the chances of kickback increase.

Some chains also have guard links in front of each cutter link. The guard link reduces the tendency of the leading edge of the depth gauge to snag on small-diameter objects such as small branches, or to engage with ordinary timber if forced into contact with it.

Chainsaw bars

Kickback reduction

Chainsaw Kickback is primarily caused by cutting with the chain in the "kickback zone" on the bar, the upper quarter of the nose.[1] Some saws, usually electric saws intended for domestic garden use, shield this whole area from contact with a "tip protector". All cutting produces a reaction force on the saw: normally this should be the lower edge of the bar, where the chain is travelling towards the saw and the reaction tends to pull the saw safely towards the log, against the spur dogs. Where the chain is moving downwards, as at the tip of the bar, the same reaction force now acts upwards and will cause a kickback upwards.

Tip protectors are metal or plastic devices that fit over the bar tip and are usually fitted to small, domestic-class saws. While these are effective, they hamper the saw in terms of the type and capacity of cuts it can execute, and are not widely used. They find a useful application in pole pruners and one-handed battery-powered saws that are used for trimming, hedge laying etc. The hooked nose of the tip protector can be used to "grab" branches for cutting, and presents no great drawback since these very small saw units are not used for cuts where the bar tip is buried.

Carving bars

Chainsaw carving often makes deliberate use of plunge cuts, and cuts on the tip of the bar. By simply reducing the diameter of the chain nose, the amount of chain, and thus the force generated during a kickback, may be reduced. Specialist carving bars are available with small pointed noses.

Chain brake

Front handguard, and combined chain brake lever

Chain brakes prevent movement of the saw's cutting chain by applying a steel brake band around the driven clutch drum.[2] Clamping force for the brake band is provided by a powerful spring. The chain brake has two purposes. First, it can be used to secure the chain when changing position, moving between cuts or starting a cold saw, which requires a partly open throttle. This would otherwise lead to uncontrolled chain movement, a major hazard in older saws. Secondly, the chainbrake can activate under kickback conditions to prevent the operator from being struck by a running chain. Of course being struck by even a static chain may cause serious injury, but anything that can be done to mitigate the usually dreadful injuries caused by contact with a moving chain is of obvious benefit to operators. Kickback injuries usually occur to the head, face, neck and shoulders; when a running chain is involved, such injuries are usually very serious, often disfiguring and sometimes fatal.

The chain brake is principally operated by the top-hand guard being pushed forward to engage the brake, and pulled back to disengage. The spring-loaded action allows powerful braking under emergency conditions and can halt a chain under full power in a fraction of a second. Correspondingly, it may require considerable force to reset.

The chain brake may be activated deliberately by the operator, or automatically by the force of a kickback event. In the former, the operator usually rotates his left wrist and knocks the top hand guard forward with the back of his hand, re-setting it by reaching forward with his fingers to pull the top hand guard backwards. In the case of a kickback event the operator's left hand may be violently dislodged from the handle and the top hand guard will be thrown onto his hand, forcing activation of the chainbrake. Husqvarna models also incorporate a link between the top handle and the chain brake trigger, applying the brake if the saw's bar is forced suddenly upwards. This is known as an "inertia" chainbrake and will allow activation of the chainbrake even if the operator's left hand is not removed from the handle.

The chain brake may also be of use when sharpening a chain on a bar, as it allows robust filing to take place without the chain slipping about.

"Wrap-around" top-hand guards have made an appearance in recent years, but are unpopular.[who?] They restrict movement, and make no allowance for the fact that when the handle is gripped on the lower section of the handle (left side of the saw from the operator's viewpoint) it is usually for making lateral, right-to-left cuts. In this situation the operator's head, neck and shoulders are out of the cutting plane of the saw and will not be struck even if a kickback does occur.

Chainsaw kickback

Chainsaw kickback can occur when the tip of the bar comes into contact with a relatively massive or immovable object with the chain under power. The area of the bar tip most likely to be involved is known as the "kickback quarter". looking from the side of the bar, the kickback quarter is the 90° section of bar found between a line going along the centreline of the bar, and another line at 90° to the first, rising upwards from the centre of the nose sprocket. If this area of chain comes into contact with - for instance - a log, the chain will initially cut the wood, but will also produce a reaction force which pushes the bar upwards. As the bar rises, the chain is forced harder into contact with the wood and climbs upwards even harder. In a fraction of a second the chain may jam hard into the wood and hurl the bar upwards towards the operator, often causing very severe injury or death. The violence of a full kickback event is such that no evasive action is possible, and if the operator's head, neck or shoulders are in line with the plane of the bar, he will certainly be struck by it. At this point, he must rely on his chainbrake and PPE to save him from injury or worse.

Another form of kickback may occur where the top of the bar is used for cutting and becomes suddenly pinched by the wood moving. In this case the saw may be forced backwards towards the operator, or forced into a position where the tip is pinched and the saw transitions into a classic tip-driven kickback. Kickback may also occur as a result of a failed or improperly executed boring cut. Bore cutting is a specialised technique requiring proper training, and should not be attempted without such training.

Kickback reducing systems

By far the most effective tool in preventing kickback is operator training. By preventing contact between the bar tip and solid objcts, kickback may be avoided. By keeping their head and body out of the cutting plane of the bar, injury may be prevented if kickback occurs. A useful tip is that if the operator can't read the logo on the side of the bar, they are too close to the cutting plane and should lean left to ensure safety.

Correct chain sharpening is paramount to safety in this context. Blunt chain cuts poorly and leads to increased operator fatigue and increased bar loading. Depth gauges filed too low make the chain grab at the wood and may negate the benefits offered by safety chain.

Chain design plays a major part in kickback reduction. Older, non-safety designs carried only teeth and depth gauges. Since these present a solid leading edge at the depth gauge should an object be suddenly forced into the chain, they can easily be made to engage fully with the foreign body and launch into a full kickback. Careful filing of the depth gauges, making a radius down to the leading edge, reduces the risk somewhat. Newer chains with ramped drive links fill in the gap ahead of the depth gauge, reducing the tendency to grab still further. Full safety chains have extra bumper links between the cutting links, maintaining nearly full depth gauge height along the full extent of the chain and reducing the risk of kickback to very low levels. Full safety (bumpered) chains are often fitted as original equipment to domestic and entry level saws. Modern "professional" chains offer far higher cutting performance than full safety chain, and offset their increased risk with an assumption of a much higher degree of operator competence. In reality they are still safer than traditional chains due to the vastly improved depth gauge design, with a deep ramp ahead of the gauge point.

Bar design is another factor in reducing kickback risk. The larger the radius of the bar tip, the greater the risk of kickback as the degree of engagement with the log (or other body) will be greater for a larger tip. Domestic class bars, climbing saw bars and entry-level professional bars usually have very small tips. Professional bars designed for logging and felling may have much larger tips as they are often used for boring cuts to free trapped timber or fell difficult trees, and a tapered, small-tipped bar will wedge easily when boring, stalling the chain. A large-tipped bar with nearly parallel sides bores easily and does not tend to jam.

While kickback prevention is a great concern in the context of chainsaw use, it is not the only means by which an operator can be injured by a saw. Local conditions, operator competence and many other factors need to be considered before undertaking sawing operations.

Safety throttle

The engine throttle is operated by the trigger under the rear handle of the saw. Unless the lock-out switch above the rear handle is also pressed, the throttle cannot move from the idle position, and the chain will not be driven.

The safety throttle prevents the chain from being driven if the trigger is accidentally pushed by an obstruction, such as a branch in undergrowth. It also prevents throttle activation when hot-starting a saw on the ground with one boot inside the rear handle. The safety throttle is an additional layer of protection in this case, since the chainbrake should be applied before starting a saw in any context.

The pictured model has an enlarged lock-out or 'dead man' switch which, when released, also activates the chain brake, thus instantly halting the running chain as well as disengaging the throttle.

On/Off switch

The on/off switch stops the engine running by preventing the ignition coil from firing. It must be clearly marked with the stop position. There must be a positive click action, so that there is no chance that the switch will change position accidentally, even while the saw is vibrating under heavy load.

If the switch were to move to the off position while the operator was in the middle of a critical cut while felling a tree, there would at least be a delay, which increases the chance that the tree might fall in an uncontrolled manner. Also, the saw might jam in the cut, requiring that the operator spend extra time under the unsafe tree freeing it. A switch failing "on" would also present a hazard, since the saw may then start inappropriately, such as when testing compression or assessing starter function.

If the operator is injured while using the saw, a bystander might have to move in to turn the saw off. The bystander may be unfamiliar with the saw and needs to be able to identify the on/off switch by its markings.

The Stihl model shown combines the choke, throttle start setting and ignition switch into one unified control lever. Other brands of saw usually have separate controls for all three, or a combined throttle start setting and choke control with a separate ignition switch.

If the switch fails to operate, a saw may be reliably stopped by operating the choke control to flood the engine.

Centrifugal clutch

The centrifugal clutch disengages the chain from the engine when the engine is only at idling speed, engaging the drive automatically when the throttle is squeezed and the engine is at full speed. The purpose of this clutch is to avoid having a moving chain when the saw is idling and temporarily not cutting. At idle the chain should not move.

Many rear-handled chainsaws are used in a state, owing to poor maintenance, where there is some clutch drag and so the chain does move slowly at idle. For top-handled saws though, this is extremely dangerous and the clutch (and chain brake) on such a saw must always be functioning correctly.

Some early chainsaws used a manual clutch instead, but this is long obsolete. Anti-vibration system rubber bush metal spring

Excessive vibration over long periods can cause the user to develop hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), or white finger. This is a potentially permanent and debilitating industrial injury. To reduce vibration, saws are divided into two parts. One part is a rigid assembly of the cutter bar and engine. This part vibrates strongly when the chain is cutting. The other part is a rigid assembly of the handles and controls of the machine, the part the user holds. These two rigid assemblies are joined together by mounts which provide spring suspension and damping.

Both metal springs and rubber bushes can be used to provide suspension. Metal springs are more robust and longer wearing, but rubber bushes provide damping in addition to a spring action.

Many modern saws incorporate electrically heated handles. This can help prevent HAVS by encouraging circulation to the fingers. Husqvarna models with this option have a "G" suffix after the model number.

Rear handle

Rear-handled chainsaw and two-handed grip

The front and rear handles of a typical "rear handle" chainsaw are widely spaced,so as to provide enough leverage for good control,[6] and also to provide some degree of control in the event of a kickback.

The operating controls of the chainsaw, such as the throttle and the engine stop (or on/off) switch, are placed so that they may operated whilst retaining a good grip on the rear handle.

It is impossible to use a rear-handled chainsaw single-handed. Their balance is such that this is not merely unwise, but so impractical as to be beyond a reasonable chance of it even being attempted.

Top-handled chainsaws

Top-handled chainsaws are a form of chainsaw whose safety is deliberately compromised in order to permit them being used single-handed where this is essential. They are restricted to working at height, such as up a tree.In all other cases, it should be possible to arrange the cutting task so that it can instead be carried out with two hands and the safer rear-handled chainsaw.

In the top-handled saw, the rear handle and its operating controls are moved to the top of the saw.This gives a balance to the saw such that it can now be used one-handed. The front handle remains the same. The chain brake lever is usually separate, rather than being combined into the protective hand guard.

In most cases, the top-handled chainsaw is used two-handed.It is only used single-handed when this is essential, such as when one hand is required for climbing.At ground-level, top-handled saws should not be used.

Owing to the nature of work at height, and the difficulty of continually re-starting the saw, the engine will often still be running when it is not used for cutting at that moment. For this reason it is particularly important that the centrifugal clutch is operating correctly so that the chain doesn't rotate when the engine is idling.The chain brake should also be engaged manually when not actually required,which is why top-handled saws usually have an easy brake control lever.

In many jurisdictions, use and even purchase of top-handled chainsaws is restricted to those holding the relevant certificate of competence in their use.

Rear hand guard

The rear hand guard protects the users right hand from being struck by a snapped or derailed chain.It also allows the rear of the saw to be held down by the operator's boot for starting. This is especially useful for cold engines, and larger (70 cc+) saws.

Exhaust

The exhaust directs the hot and noxious gases coming from the engine away from the user. A faulty exhaust increases noise, decreases engine power, can expose the user to unsafe levels of exhaust gases, and can increase the chance that the user could accidentally touch extremely hot metal. Most models feature a spark screen which is integrated into the muffler. The spark screen prevents sparks from being discharged from with the exhaust and potentially igniting sawdust. The spark screen also reduces noise.

Hand/Eye/Ear Defender Symbols

Warning labels

In the EU at least, it is a legal requirement that chainsaws carry certain standardized warning labels which warn of the dangers of kickback as well as making clear the need for protective clothing.

Scabbard

The cutter chain is sharp enough to cause injury even when it is not being driven. The scabbard covers the chain when the saw is in storage or being transported. It also protects the chain from damage, for instance blunting by contact with concrete floors.

Soil Compactor Safety Tips

Soil compactors stabilize soil by compressing, kneading, or vibrating it to remove air pockets and increase density. Different compactors are used depending on the type of soil. Due to weight, frequency, and force of movement, soil compactors can cause serious or fatal injuries if used improperly.

Rammers drive a metal foot into the soil with a high impact force. Vibratory plates use low force, but a high frequency movement to settle the soil. Rollers knead and compress soil with their weight and movement. Manual walk-behind rollers have smooth or padded drums. Ride-on rollers can vibrate or use heavy metal or rubber tires to compact soil. They can be small for patch jobs or large for big jobs like asphalt finishing work.

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Read operating instructions and get hands-on training for each soil compactor you use. Know how to use all of the controls before you operate one. Choose the correct soil compactor for the soil type (cohesive, granular, or mix). Use machines only on stable ground. Work up or down a slope, not across it. Get training in trenching and excavation and keep away from the edges of building pits and excavations. Face toward the soil compactor’s direction of travel.

Follow manufacturer’s maintenance schedules and inspect equipment before each use. Lockout energy controls and blockout stored energy before you perform maintenance. Allow machines to cool before fueling or performing work. Combustion engines emit carbon monoxide and other pollutants, so don’t operate them indoors or in a confined space.

To prevent caught/crush injuries, maintain guards on moving parts and at pinch points. Choose machines with safety bars or switches that stop the machine if the operator lets go. Use backup alarms to warn pedestrians of ride-on compactor movements. Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) and seatbelts keep you safe. Don’t operate a soil compactor if you are a minor or under the influence of medication, drugs, or alcohol.

Extended use of a vibrating soil compactor can lead to vibration syndrome, an ergonomic injury causing damage to finger circulation and nerves. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and blanching. Soil compactor instructions include vibration level ratings and maximum usage times. Most equipment has vibration isolation technology on handles and seats. Excessive vibration may indicate poor maintenance or disrepair. Wear anti-vibration gloves if needed.

To avoid strains and sprains, maintain proper posture and a straight back when using/driving a soil compactor. Adjust steering handles/wheels to fit your height and arm length without hunching over or reaching up. Keep equipment controls close to your body with your arms at about waist height. Compactors are HEAVY. Don’t lift, wiggle, or force their movement. Use loading ramps, integrated wheels, or get help when loading and unloading machines.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) like sturdy work boots protect your feet from puncture and crush injuries. Consider additional toe protection for walk-behind compactors. Work gloves protect your hands from blisters, cuts, and punctures. Safety glasses and face shields protect against flying debris and dust. Ear muffs or plugs restrict hearing loss due to loud compaction equipment. A hard hat and comfortable work clothes are always needed on construction sites. Consider a dust mask or respirator depending on the worksite and substrate being compacted.

Operating a Bulldozer Requires Special Safety Rules

Operating a Bulldozer Requires Special Safety Rules

The bulldozer was invented primarily for farm work such as ploughing fields. It has become more powerful and sophisticated with time and modernization of heavy equipment. Learning to handle this giant earthmover requires the operator to know certain safety rules to keep everyone safe.

If you haven’t seen a bulldozer, than you may not realize the massive size of this heavy equipment. This monster machine’s pure size, if not operated correctly, can cause injury and even death to the operator, the ground crew and destruction to anything else in its way — including other equipment.

We all heard about general heavy equipment safety tips but there are safety rules that need to be followed specifically for the bulldozer.

Bulldozer safety tips :

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Only qualified and trained drivers should operate a bulldozer. This isn’t an equipment anybody with can just hop in and operate. In fact, if there is just one bulldozer operator on the team, than he or she should be the sole operator — no substitutions even if the need may arise.

Common sense safety steps such as wearing a safety belt need to be followed. A safety belt may just save you from head injury.

Before attempting to work, operators must make sure nothing is obstructing the area and that the machine and all parts are working properly. The horn is one thing that should be tested.

Communication and inspection of the bulldozer area work site is extremely important. Operators should coordinate with the traffic department and make sure there is a lead person who will control and take responsibility of the traffic while work is in progress. Road blocks or flagman can be utilized to keep areas safe for bulldozer use.

Bulldozer operators should get in the habit of looking up when conducting inspections. This is because bulldozers can actually run into overhead power lines that might cause a possible accident. This is the same for looking below since a trench or an excavation area can cause mechanical and structural damage to the equipment as well as possible risk for injury to the operator

Safety is important in handling any kind of equipment, but specific safety tips should be followed for the bulldozer operator. A good professional heavy equipment school can help you learn about those tips and rules. Learning the important of safety before getting in the driver’s seat can save a life — maybe yours.

Excavator Safety Tips

Safe Operating Procedure.

Safe operation can help meet performance expectations of mini-excavators. When operating mini-excavators, use common sense and follow these guidelines.

ALWAYS BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT AND MAKE SURE IT FITS SNUGLY AROUND YOUR WAIST.

Before operating the machine, become familiar with it by reading the operator's manual and performing a basic walk-around.

A daily maintenance check should also be done to ensure a safe and trouble-free rental. If a problem is found, notify A to Z Rentals and Sales immediately, and do not attempt to operate the machine.

To prevent the engine from stopping during a lift or during excavation (with the possibility of a dangerous situation), check the fuel level to make sure the tank is full.

Make sure no one enters the danger zone while the machine is in operation.

The operator should wear sunglasses to prevent glare in the eyes.

To eliminate the possibility of a trench cave-in, don't undercut the tracks during excavation.

Before lifting, know the lift capacity of the machine, to prevent the possibility of a tip-over.

Check the security of the chain or hoist, and never use a bucket cylinder rod as a lifting point.

Avoid tip-overs.

There are several guidelines to follow to avoid tip-overs.

While the main function of the dozer blade is grading and back fill, it can also be used as extra support for stability when excavating on uneven ground. It also offers extra lift capability during lift operations. To avoid an unstable situation, be sure to raise the dozer blade before moving.

Use caution in rotating over the track with the arm fully extended.

The tracks should be on firm ground that won't give way during operation and the machine should sit as horizontal to the ground as possible. This will reduce the likelihood of tip-over and also provide stress-free work for the operator.

These safety guidelines should be a priority when operating any mini-excavator. If these guidelines are followed with common sense during operation, the machine will perform to your expectations and get the job done without the risk of injury or accidents on the jobsite.

Crane Safety Sign and Tips

Signals of Safety

Crane operators require skilled assistance in order to perform a job well. Performing well means doing it safely. An operator and competent signal person can make a great safety team if they communicate. Proper hand signals, a positive and alert attitude, and a "good eye" for procedures can lessen the risk of accidents or injuries to co-workers.

Daily Safety

The designated signal person must be competent and know "all the right moves". As well, the signal person must wear a high visibility vest. armlet, or other clothing that clearly identifies them,. A hand signal chart should be mounted on the crane unit so everyone knows the system. Crane, derrick, and hoisting equipment must be inspected daily. Be on the lookout for faulty equipment such as cracked windshields or a leaking hydraulic line. Good housekeeping on and near the crane area is essential for safety.

Signal Person Duties

Know the basic signals that your company uses. Be sure that you and the operator are using the same signals. Have only one person assigned to be the signaler. More than one will confuse the operator. Also:

Always watch the load - the crane operator is watching you

Make sure the load does not pass above you or other workers

Keep the crane at least 7 metres (20 feet) away from power lines - keep an eye out overhead

Common Signals

Hoist: With forearm vertical, forefinger pointing up, move hand in small horizontal circles.

Lower: With arm extended downward, forefinger pointing down, move hand in small horizontal circles.

Stop: Arm extended, palm down, hold position rigidly. Emergency Stop: Arms extended, palm down, move hand rigidly right and left. Raise Boom: Arms extended, fingers closed, thumb pointing upwards. Lower Boom: Arm extended, fingers closed, thumb pointing downward. Swing: Point with finger in direction of swing of boom. Move Slowly: Use one hand to give any motion signal and place your other hand motionless in front of the hand giving the motion signal

A Serious Job

Every worker should know crane hand signals. Knowing the signals may allow you to help out when needed

If you are asked to be a signal person, make sure you are using the same signals as other workers and operators on the project

With tower cranes or situations where hand signals are not safe enough, ensure that a two-way radio is used for voice communication. This will give you direct contact with the operator.

Whatever system you use - hands or radio - make sure the equipment and workers are able to do the job right.

For more information, refer to current applicable Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

Don't Be a Headline

Listed below are a few Crane Accident stories.

CRANE COLLAPSE KILLS TWO IN ONTARIO (June 2000)

Alves Jose (59) of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Darren Leon (31) of Mississauga, Ontario were killed instantly on June 19, 2000 when a construction crane collapsed at an Oakville water treatment facility. The two men were working on top of a 5 metre wooden wall. The cable on the 40 metre boom snapped as it was lowering a concrete bucket which sent the metal structure crashing on them. Police would not confirm that one man was impaled by a steel reinforcing rod. Two other workers narrowly escaped being crushed while the crane operator was treated in nearby hospital for shock. Reports indicate that around 40 employees of North American Construction Company were working at the Mid-Halton Wastewater Treatment Plant at the time of the accident which was witnessed by dozens. The accident is being investigated by the Halton Regional Police and the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

29 YEAR OLD MAN ELECTROCUTED

A 29 year old worker was electrocuted when he pushed the crane cable on a 1-yard cement bucket into a 7200 volt power line. The victim was a member of a crew that was constructing the back concrete wall of an underground water-holding tank at a sewage treatment plant. Before work on the tank began, the company safety director made sure that insulated line hoses were placed over sections of the power line near the jobsite and that a safe clearance zone was marked off for arriving cement trucks to use for loading their cement buckets.

After the wall was poured, the driver of the cement truck cleaned the loading chute on his truck with a water hose mounted on the truck. As he began to pull away, the crew supervisor yelled at him - asking if the crew could use his water hose to wash out the cement bucket suspended from the crane. The driver stopped the truck under the power line and the crane operator (not realizing that the truck had been moved) swung the boom to position the bucket behind the truck. The victim grasped the power line. The victim provided a path to ground and was fatally electrocuted.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER ELECTROCUTED

A 37 year old construction labourer was electrocuted while pulling a wire rope attached to a crane cable toward a load. The choker was to be connected to a steel roof joist that was to be lifted 150 feet across the roof of a one-story school and set in place. The cab of the crane was positioned 11-1/2 feet from a 7200 volt power line. After a previous roof joist had been set in place, the crane operator swung the crane boom and cable back toward the victim - who grabbed the choker in his left hand. With his right hand, he held onto a steel rod that had been driven into the ground nearby. At this point, the momentum of the swinging crane apparently caused the crane cable to contact the power line. The electrical current passed across the victim's chest and through the steel rod to ground, causing his fatal electrocution.

COMPANY PRESIDENT & EMPLOYEE DIE IN CRANE ACCIDENT

A 20-year old truck driver and his 70-year-old male employer (the company president) were electrocuted when the boom of a truck-mounted crane contacted a 7200 volt conductor of an overhead power line. The incident occurred while the driver was unloading concrete blocks at a residential construction site. The driver had backed the truck up the steeply sloped driveway under a power line at the site and was using the crane to unload a cube of concrete blocks. The company president and a masonry contractor watched as the driver operated the crane by a hand-held remote control unit. The driver was having difficulty unloading the blocks because the truck was parked at such a steep angle. While all three men watched the blocks, the tips of the crane boom contacted a conductor of the overhead power line and completed a path to ground through the truck, the remote control unit, and the driver. The company president attempted to render assistance and apparently contacted the truck, completing a path to ground through his body. He died on the scene. The truck driver was airlifted to a nearby burn center where he later died as a result of electrical burns