Construction Safety Talks - 07
- 1. Construction Safety Talks Caution Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk. With Front Rubber-tired front end loaders are commonly found on job sites. End However, they have special hazards that should be avoided. Loaders Talk to your crew about the problems that can come from No. 7 operating a front end loader and make sure they understand how to prevent them. Most important, if your equipment is equipped with ROPS (rollover protection), the seat belt must be worn to keep you within the How This Talk Applies To My safety envelope if the machine overturns. Crew: Raised Buckets There are many dangers that can result from leaving the machine with the bucket raised. Every year falling buckets cause injuries. Some of these injuries occur to construction workers who should know better and some to children who don't. There are also a few older machines with the pivot behind the seat which can crush the operator as they climb under the raised bucket arm to leave the machine. Hauling Riders This is another cause of serious accidents. The only safe place to ride is on a seat provided for that specific purpose. Tell the crew that your company enforces a rule that there must be a seat for each rider. Traveling These machines should be roaded (driven) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, especially concerning speed and grade. Falls Falls while getting on and off the loader are the most common accidents. Make sure that steps and ladders are properly maintained. Steps and ladders should be kept clear of mud, snow, and ice. Remember, always keep a "three point contact" with the machine (two feet and a hand or two hands and a foot) Never jump off! © 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1
- 2. Backing Over Someone There is always the danger of backing over a person while working. The operator must watch for and warn people who get into the backing area. Make sure the machine is equipped with an operational back up alarm which is in working order. Working On Stockpiles Or Fill Areas Care must be taken in these areas. Undercutting a stock pile can result in a slide that will bury a loader. A hopper should have a stoplog to prevent a truck or loader from driving into it. When working on a stock pile or fill area, the operator should know where the edge is and approach it slowly. At the beginning of each shift, the operator should check the machine to make sure all safety devices are working. Do not use your hands to check for hydraulic leaks. Use a small piece of wood such as a cut-off broom handle or paint paddle. A hydraulic leak under pressure has so much force that it cuts as effectively as a sharp saw blade. Try This For Show And Tell! Take the crew to one of your front end loaders and have one of them sit in the driver's seat. Then have someone stand behind the loader to show the crew how difficult it is for the driver to see anyone behind them. Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking: • What can we do to keep truck drivers and other workers out of the backing area? • How many of you have been injured or slipped while working around or getting on and off a loader? What happened? • Has anyone here had trouble with a machine while it was being roaded? • What do you include in your pre-shift inspection? Attended By: The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification. © 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2