The types of equipment used at a construction site will vary throughout the duration of the project. Mini excavators, skid steers and trenchers will be performing tasks around workers on foot who may be hauling equipment, digging holes and working on scaffolding.

Keeping everyone safe during the workday helps to eliminate accidents that can be life-threatening. Equipment can roll over to crush operators, workers on the ground can be struck by swinging equipment and pedestrians may be hit by machines entering or exiting the jobsite.

Operators need to ensure that their machines are constantly used in the right manner to avoid accidents. All workers should use the following construction safety tips when working around these heavy machines.

Comprehensive Operator Training

Before placing operators in the driver seat for the heavy equipment, they should be trained on all safety procedures for the specific machine. The operator must have classroom and hands-on experience regarding how to engage in the proper startup procedure for the equipment, identifying hazards that may cause the machine to operate in an unsafe fashion, and have knowledge about the heavy equipment's safety features.

In addition, operators should understand the load and lift capacity of the heavy equipment to prevent the hydraulic systems from failing or the machine from tipping over.

Equipment Inspection and Repair

Equipment may become damaged or experience prolonged wear-and-tear to operating parts. Each piece of heavy equipment should undergo an inspection before being put into use. Visually inspect all hydraulic systems, cab controls, lights, safety features and tires for issues.

If a driver comes across an issue, such as a worn mini excavator track, immediately take the machine out of service. Have the maintenance team or operators on hand who have knowledge about changing a mini excavator track to perform the work efficiently.

Never place malfunctioning equipment back into service to try to finish a project on schedule. If the parts are not available or cannot completely fix the machine up to operational standards, decommission the heavy equipment. Pushing malfunctioning machines to their breaking points only increases the chances of a workplace accident happening that may injure or kill a worker.

Use of Spotters

Spotters are essential for every construction site. They give visual and verbal cues to heavy equipment operators and workers on the ground to ensure everyone has enough clear space to move and work effectively. Spotters also help to eliminate blind spots for operators so the heavy equipment can move without striking a worker or a pedestrian. A spotter should be equipped with brightly colored clothes for high visibility and be knowledgeable in giving hand signals to safely direct heavy equipment around the jobsite.

Worksite Awareness

While using spotters will help to eliminate blind spots for heavy equipment operators when they are moving or swinging their machines, the operator should still be fully aware of their surroundings. Underground wires, gas lines and water pipes should be marked or have barriers placed up to prevent the equipment from coming in direct contact with them. If dealing with overhead electrical wires, the wires should be de-energized if possible, moved, or barriers should be placed to prevent any unwanted contact.

Operators should also be aware of the amount of clearance their vehicle has when swinging the cab. There should be enough space to prevent workers and pedestrians from being struck, as well as prevent the machine from striking any structures or scaffolding. Also, obstacles on the ground should be avoided if possible. While it is true that Heavy Duty equipment tracks and tires can go over a wide range of surfaces and debris, materials can shift underneath the equipment on uneven and wet ground that may cause the heavy equipment to slide.

Operate Equipment for Intended Use

Many heavy machines are multifunctional. The machines can perform a wide range of jobs, allowing the contractor to save costs by using fewer pieces of equipment. However, just because heavy equipment can use several different attachments to perform tasks does not mean it should be used for every job at the construction site.

Only use heavy equipment for its intended use. Never overload mini heavy equipment when using a larger machine. Also, never use other pieces of equipment as aerial lifts when raising workers up into the air, such as having workers stand in the bucket attachment on an excavator machine or a wheel loader.

Worksite Safety Based on the Construction Project

Construction projects will vary based on size, the types of equipment used and the tasks that will need to be performed. Safety procedures and protocols should be developed to address the hazards that may occur at each site. Then all workers should be thoroughly trained on these procedures to ensure that everyone understands their roles in keeping a safe and functional jobsite.