Heavy machinery such as cranes, forklifts, tractors, trawlers, etc. are used in almost all industries. They are significantly important in construction industry and warehousing. As much beneficial these heavy machines are for improving efficiency, they are risky as well due to their huge sizes and the industries they deal in. This article discusses the major reason for accidents in a workplace and 6 tips for lowering the risk of heavy equipment accidents.
In case of an accident other than the increased project cost and time delays, there could be damage done to human lives or wellbeing. People can get seriously injured in accidents leading to payment of workers’ compensation benefits such as paying for the hospital bills and lost wages. Before we get started with the tips for preventing accidents, let’s take a look at the main causes of heavy equipment accidents.
Main Causes of Heavy Equipment Accidents
Every year a lot of accidents happen at construction sites, where heavy machinery is involved. The main reasons of these accidents are as follows:
1. Poor Maintenance
Heavy machinery must be maintained regularly for efficient functioning and smooth performance. Lack of maintenance in heavy machinery is a continuous safety hazard for people working in that area.
Poor maintenance in heavy machinery leads to malfunctioning where the alert or warning systems of the equipment might also stop working. The aim of alert systems is to warn people in that area that a forklift is operating in that area. A broken alert system fails to warn people who might become victim of an accident because of not being aware of machine working in that area.
2. Improper Training
Heavy equipment movers should only allow qualified and fully-trained personnel to operate heavy machinery. If a poorly trained worker is given a machine to operate, accidents are bound to happen. Other than adequate training, workers must be supervised while operating machines. Moreover, heavy machinery movers should supervise workers properly while they are using or moving the equipment. Due to the huge size of equipment, workers might not be aware of the dangers all around, and may run into an accident. So, supervision help to a great deal.
3. Lack of Equipment Inspection
All heavy equipment movers must make sure to inspect machines on a regular basis and especially a day before it is used. With a checklist of things to review, the inspection process can be made efficient and effective.
Tips for Reducing the Risk of an Accident
With the help of these tips heavy machinery movers can reduce the risk of accidents, and ensure safety of people as well as equipment.
1. Use machine-guarding equipment
Machine-guarding equipment is a safety machine to protect workers from any damages or hazards while using heavy machinery. Some examples of guarding equipment are light curtains, barrier guards and two-hand operating devices.
2. Wear required safety equipment
Heavy machinery movers must wear required safety equipment to keep themselves protected while working on a site. Heavy machinery moving in not all about transporting equipment using vehicles. While loading and unloading, workers must wear hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed boots and other equipment as per the requirement of the project or site for protection against injuries and fatalities.
3. Keep the way clear while moving machinery
Heavy equipment movers should not be disturbed or bothered while doing the job. A small distraction here or there might become a reason of accident. So, if someone is handling heavy equipment, it is recommended to give them a clear way and stay away from moving parts. A small disturbance or touching any component of heavy equipment can lead to accident or serious injuries.
4. Stay Away while loading
While workers are loading and unloading heavy equipment, make sure that everyone stay away from it because any kind of negligence or mistake can result in a poor loading job which can later on cause accident.
5. Only properly trained Workers should operate
Heavy machinery movers should only task those workers with the job of equipment moving who have training and experience of dealing with heavy equipment. If untrained people are given the job to move machinery, that might put their and others’ safety at risk.
6. Communication is the key
Heavy equipment movers must communicate with others working on that site and working nearby. They can use mobile phones, walkie-talkies, radios, or other communication gadgets for efficient and safe machinery moving. Through communication they can keep everyone updated and aware of the surrounding.
Final Words
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