Safety Toolbox Talk Meeting Topic: Working around heavy equipment / vehicle

A Safety Toolbox Talk meeting should be held to remind people about the safety precautions to take when working near heavy equipment.

Working near heavy equipment or vehicles such as a dump truck, excavator, grader, aerial/scissor lift, Loader, bulldozer or mobile crane possess a potential risk of being trapped between equipment/vehicles and walls, struck by backhoes oscillating, hit by a bucket or boom, pinched by outriggers, crush under overturned vehicles, or other similar accidents.

 

Safety Toolbox Talk on Working around heavy equipment / vehicle

Peoples working around heavy equipment are exposed to pinch points, back-into, run-over, and back-over hazards when working in proximity to heavy equipment and construction vehicles.

After assessing the risk and identifying the safety control measures, a Safety Toolbox Talk meeting should be held to communicate the safety measures and interact with people. Here are some important safety precautions that can be discussed with people before starting work near or around heavy equipment. Working safely around heavy equipment applies to all peoples including employees, contract workers and visitors. All these precautions help to keep the people safe.

 

Safety Toolbox Talk Meeting Topic: Work safely around heavy equipment

👉 Establish the danger zone around heavy equipment and isolate this area by providing a physical barrier or safety caution tape or other appropriate safety means.

👉 Mark the safe and clear path of entry and exit for a safe zone around the movement of heavy equipment.

👉 Do not use shortcuts to approach the desired location by entering through the danger zone.

👉 Identify the radius of rotation of the excavator's bucket or suspended crane load to barricade this area.

👉 Barricade the entire truck / trailer loading area to prevent man movement around the truck under loading.

👉 Do not assume operators can see you, be careful when working / walking around heavy equipment / vehicles.

👉 Make sure all lights and audible alarms of heavy equipment/ vehicles are working properly.

👉 When loading debris, excavated material, rocks, stones, soil or other construction material waste onto a dump truck using an excavator or loader, do not allow the dump truck driver to stay outside the cab near the truck. Also, do not allow the driver to climb on top of the truck to check the level of loaded material.

👉 Never allow anyone under a suspended load or work under a suspended load or overhead load.

👉 Make sure availability of trained Banksman or a flag man or signal man for excavation, crane operation, loading and other similar work on the construction area or for work near a public road to assist the operator.

👉 Preset hand signals or other suitable communication system such as a walkie-talkie should be provided for better communication between the operator and the person in charge of the work crew to accomplish all movements.

👉 Traffic should be controlled near the heavy equipment / vehicle work area with appropriate means of warning signs, barricades, temporary closer of roads, banksman or other similar security / safety means.

👉 Workers should stay out of equipment blind spots and in an area where they can easily make visual contact with the operator before entering the bucket's swing radius.

👉 Maintain a clear line of conduct between operator and workers. Take care of blind spots and act accordingly.

👉 Make sure that the reverse horn and the flashlight of heavy equipment / vehicles are working properly. Use road signs, barricades and flaggers when working near a public thoroughfare.

👉 All persons working near heavy equipment / vehicles should wear a high visible vest. If the work is performed at night, all persons should have a high visibility reflective vest.

👉 Use an observer when heavy equipment is in motion. This requires communication between operator and workers to maintain safe movement.

👉 Always try to walk on the driver's side of the equipment as the passenger side has a larger blind spot.

👉 Workers should keep a safe distance from all sides of heavy equipment while in use.

👉 Be aware of the swing radius of some equipment and, if possible, mark off the area with barriers or warning tape.

👉 Wear all appropriate personal protective equipment including hard hat, safety shoes, safety glasses, etc.

 

Working near heavy equipment or vehicles is hazardous work due to the potential risk of "hit by" and "crush" fatality. Conducting safety toolbox talk meeting before commencing the work around heavy equipment helps to remind safety precautions and to work safely.