© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1

Construction Safety Talks

Backing Equipment

No. 8

How This Talk Applies To My

Crew:

Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk.

Most of the fatal accidents that occur during road construction work involve backing equipment that is moving, usually, at slow speeds.

Equipment involved includes:

• trucks

• dozers

• graders

• front end loaders

In each case the dead employee was not the equipment operator, but someone working on grade.

Here are three typical accidents:

• A laborer was spotting dump trucks in a fill area. She was walking backwards when a truck backed over her.

• A grade supervisor was setting grade stakes. He leaned over to check a stake when a dozer backed over him.

• A laborer was cleaning up coverage from an adjacent lane on an asphalt paving job when he was struck by a hot-mix batch truck backing into the paving machine.

The lesson is: if you're on foot, keep your eye on moving equipment!

Backing Safety Tips

• Don't go into an area where equipment is backing unless you have a specific job to do there.

• If you are driving, know where your spotter is at all times. Know where all the people are who are working near you. Make sure your backup alarm is working.

• Those who must enter a backing area should wear traffic vests, communicate with operators, and consider using a vehicle as an identification marker.

© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2

• Any time you approach equipment, make eye contact with the operator so they know you are there.

• Schedule grade checking for the operator's lunch time.

Try This For Show And Tell!

Take the crew to a piece of earth moving or paving equipment and have one of them sit in the driver's seat. Then have someone stand behind the machine to show the crew how difficult it is for the driver to see anyone who is behind them.

Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking:

• Which operations on our job involve backing equipment?

• Do you have bi-directional equipment? Address how these are handled.

• Are there reasons for employees on foot to be in the areas where these operations are going on?

• What is the Number 1 rule for use of a spotter?

• Has anyone ever had an accident, or know of one involving backing equipment?

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.