Equipment World

October 2014

Equipment World Digital Magazine

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Spotting safety problems Information for this Safety Watch was taken from an accident report and from the Center for Disease Control's NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program. It is meant for general information only. The accident: A skid steer operator was moving dirt and gravel around a small jobsite. A dump truck backed onto the job- site behind the skid steer, and two work- ers approached the rear of the truck on foot. The skid steer operator backed up, pinning one of the workers against the tailgate. The worker collapsed and was later pronounced dead from severe internal injuries. The bottom line: A post-accident investigation determined the skid steer op- erator, who had his back to the dump truck, was not even aware the truck was on the jobsite. The investigation also determined the construction firm was a small business without an adequate safety program in place. Smart safety One of the biggest mistakes contrib- uting to this accident is the contrac- tor and workers treating safety as if it's just a matter of common sense. While you do have to use your head – as well as your eyes and ears – on the jobsite, following a clear, specific jobsite safety plan is just as important. When safety isn't addressed regu- larly in an official capacity, workers are left to their own devices and can develop unsafe practices. If you work for a small company that has limited safety resources, the com- pany might not develop a specific safety plan for each jobsite. Being proactive and taking responsibility for your own safety is the best way to protect yourself: s 7ALK THE JOBSITE AND NOTE ANY problems you may encounter. s !SK THE CREW LEADER TO GO OVER potentially dangerous condi- tions, limitations or specific haz- ards you may face on the job. s 2EQUEST THE INFORMATION IS RE- layed to the entire crew. Jobsite awareness Multiple machines and trucks moving on a jobsite at the same time increase the risk to pedestrian traffic. Although a small company working on a small project may not have a detailed Internal Traffic Control Plan for the site, a sys- tem should be developed to keep machines and foot traffic separate. When multiple pieces of equip- ment are operating on a site at once, spotters should be assigned to alert machine operators and truck drivers to the presence of other workers and other equip- ment in their lane of travel. s !SK THE CREW LEADER TO DESIGNATE dedicated lanes of travel for equipment and trucks, as well as defining areas to avoid on foot. s )F YOURE AN EQUIPMENT OPERA- tor, signal the spotter before you travel in reverse. The spot- ter will alert you if it is safe to proceed. s )F YOURE ON FOOT SIGNAL THE spotter when you're on the move so they'll be able to alert equipment operators to your presence. safety watch | by Amy Materson | AMaterson@randallreilly.com EquipmentWorld.com | October 2014 51 Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax Always know what's around you whether on foot or in equipment

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