Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/894232
EquipmentWorld.com | November 2017 59 safety watch | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com I n many construction and land- scaping companies, equipment operators often serve as their own mechanics – despite having limited skills and knowledge on how to safely repair and service the machines. Such was the case one cold Janu- ary morning when a 38-year-old company veteran's lack of knowl- edge proved fatal. With 19 years at this landscaping company, the victim was a jack of all trades. He and the company owner did most of the maintenance and repairs on the machines. The task that morning was to fi nd and repair a hydraulic leak in an 18-year-old skid steer loader. The loader had a mechanical loader arm lock consisting of two pins that popped out of the sides of the loader when the lock was manually engaged from the operator's seat. Interlocks connected to the opera- tor seat belt and a pressure switch in the seat served as a backup. These were both working. In the standard procedure to lock the loader arms, the operator raised them, engaged the locking lever and lowered the arms onto the pins to keep the arms and bucket elevated safely. For the fi rst step in the repair, the victim moved the loader into a heated shop, engaged the locking pins and lowered the arms onto them. Next, he opened the engine cowling at the rear of the machine. Unable to see the leak, he re- moved the belly pan and drove the machine back outside to pressure- wash the debris under the machine. With the debris washed away, he drove the loader back inside, raised the arms again and turned off the machine. But he apparently did not engage the lift arm lock. He got out of the cab and removed the seat from the front of the machine to access the hydraulic line. But when he disconnected the hydraulic line, the loader arms fell and crushed him against the front of the loader. He died from his injuries. How could this accident have been prevented? • Ensure that skid steer loader arm locks are engaged before any maintenance or service tasks requiring them to be raised. • Develop, implement and enforce lockout/tag-out procedures for skid steer loaders that include use of lift arm support devices during maintenance. • Provide training for operators on maintenance tasks that they may encounter and ensure that only trained employees perform this work. • Develop, implement and enforce a safety and health program that addresses hazard recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions. For more information and details on preventive measures see: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/ pdfs/15ma004.pdf Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax Hydraulic guillotine