It takes a combination of several important elements and personality traits for an equipment operator to earn and then maintain an excellent safety record. Fortunately for safety directors, these traits can be continually improved over time with the right safety programming and culture in place.
Quality training and regular professional development opportunities should always serve as foundational components for any safety effort, but the best-performing companies go a lot further. They evaluate and correct the individual behaviors exhibited by operators on the jobsite, refining these traits into a much more complete profile of personal safety performance.
Several core attributes regarding work ethic and attention to detail comprise the hallmarks of the best-performing and safest equipment operators, including the following.
1. Walk the Walk
A safe equipment operator has a good attitude and a good aptitude. A “know-it-all” operator behind the controls of a piece of equipment is not nearly as reliable as an operator who demonstrates their knowledge through safe operation. Actions always speak louder than words, particularly on construction jobsites.
2. Pride in Their Work
When an equipment operator takes pride in their craft, they will more than likely always act in a safe manner. They will make use of idle time and not spend it sitting in the seat. Instead, they will perform tasks like preventative maintenance on their piece of equipment because they feel a sense of pride and ownership. This sentiment permeates into almost every aspect of an operator’s duties and is one that can be continually developed by a company’s safety culture over time.
3. Respect for Safety
When it comes to safely operating a piece of equipment, the operator must have respect for and abide by safety rules and regulations. These were put into place to not only keep the equipment operator safe but also those who may be working in close proximity to the piece of equipment.
One can often observe this respect for the regulations in some of the most common of actions because, when it comes to safety, the little things really do matter most. For example, a safe operator will automatically put their hardhat on when exiting the equipment cab before being reminded. They will also pay attention to their surroundings and will adjust to changes on a jobsite, knowing that awareness and flexibility are essential. They will also stop to ask questions, when needed, to ensure safety. Behaviors like these are a clear indication of consistent safety conduct that serves as a great example for other workers about good habits they should maintain.
4. Attention to Detail
A safe operator does not guess. They’ll double check, measure and confirm before proceeding with any task. In such dangerous and high-stakes environments as construction zones, operators can never get complacent about work. Even though they may have performed a task many hundreds of times in the past, there is always that one time when something in the task may change without notice. Attention to detail is paramount.
5. Strengthening Teams
The willingness to share acquired knowledge is another key attribute of a truly safe operator. Nobody works alone in construction. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Therefore, a truly safe equipment operator will have the presence of mind to also use their role to teach others. Operators should be encouraged to share information and best practices about their equipment with other workers involved on their projects. Not only does this add to everyone’s knowledge and skills, it also helps propagate a company’s safety culture.
All of these traits combine to form an operator that comes to work each day with a singular plan: make sure everyone gets home safely to their families after completing a safe day at work. That’s what it’s all about. Working with heavy equipment is inherently risky, but there is a great deal that can be done to promote the behaviors that create a safer, better place for everyone to work.
