Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/426956
Excavation obstacles Information for this Safety Watch is from an accident report, the Center for Disease Control's NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program and Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1926.651 (f) and (k) (1), specific excavation requirements. It is meant for general information only. The accident: A contrac- tor was performing site prep and demolition for a new commercial building. During excavation, it was determined unacceptable soil had to be removed and replaced with suitable fill dirt. While the backhoe operator was placing piles of fill in the excavation, other workers were spread- ing and compacting the fill. In preparation for dumping a load, the backhoe opera- tor positioned his machine at the edge of the excava- tion. The backhoe toppled over into the excavation. A worker who was operating a gas-powered compactor had his back to the operator and did not see the machine fall into the excavation. The backhoe bucket struck the compactor op- erator, killing him. The bottom line: A post-accident investigation determined the back- hoe operator moved his machine too close to the edge of the exca- vation, and then failed to either set the machine's parking brake or de- ploy outriggers to ensure stability. The worker was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma injuries. Out of harm's way The workers spreading the fill on this job were already in the exca- vation while the backhoe opera- tor was still dumping dirt, raising the risk of coming into contact with the machine. Whether you're working on foot in close proxim- ity to a piece of equipment – or you're an equipment operator with pedestrian traffic on your site – take the following precautions. Don't enter an excavation while equipment is working or positioned on the edge. OSHA regulations state that, if a piece of machinery is within 2 feet of an excavation's edge, there should be no workers inside the excavation itself. When the backhoe was ready to dump another load of fill, the workers should have exited the excavation until he moved away. If you're the equipment operator, ensure all foot traffic has left the excavation before you approach the edge. Familiarize yourself with the re- sults of the site inspection. Your company's competent person will conduct daily site inspec- tions to determine new hazards that appear as the job pro- gresses. The competent person will be able to alert you as to possible cave-ins and problems with the excavation grade that might make it easy for a piece of equipment to tip over into the excavation. Knowing what to ex- pect will help you to keep your eyes and ears open for potential problems. Follow the safety guidelines. If you're the equipment operator, never park your machine on the edge of an excavation. When you come to a stop, even for just a few minutes, engage the park- ing brake, lowering front mount- ed equipment to the ground, shift the transmission controls to neutral and lower stabilizers and level the machine. safety watch | by Amy Materson | AMaterson@randallreilly.com EquipmentWorld.com | December 2014 47 Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax When working around backhoes or other digging equipment, watch your back