1/10/2003 1

The Operation of Heavy Equipment in the Presence of Personnel On the GroundPresented By:

Thomas H. ConradWSO-CSE,CSM

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Foreword

Many types of Mobile Construction Equipment are available for use by contractors doing a wide variety of work. Many, if not all these machines, have to operate within a close proximity to persons on foot. They all however, present similar types of known hazards.

This training session is devoted to attempt to identify, and hopefully better educate those who must work around or operate these types of equipment, since they all possess the capability to cause serous injury or death.

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These Include but Are Not Limited To:

Front-end loaders; Rubber-tired and trackedCrawler tractors/bulldozers, skid steer bobcatsWheel tractor-scrapers, elevating scrapers, tandem powered scrapersRubber-tired backhoes and tracked hydraulic excavatorsOn and off-road haulage vehiclesAsphalt Pavers and associated support equipment - pavement rollersVibratory rollers and compactorsMotor graders, grade tractors, industrial tractorsConcrete mixers and pump trucksSpecial use construction equipment: grinding, Pulverizing, milling, water trucks, etc

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PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING.

DIRECT PARTICIPANTS: (Need to be on site on regular basis)Signal Persons, Observers, Flaggers, Grade Checkers, Dump Persons.Equipment Operators, Teamsters.Laborers, Iron Workers and Carpenters. Foremen, Supervisors, and other related contractor staff.Surveyors, Rodmen, Layout Crews.Mechanics and oilers.Any Other Crafts and/or Trades working

on the Project, or Passing through the work areas.

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PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING.

PARTICIPANTS WHO NEED TO BE ON SITE: (On a Periodic Basis)Delivery Trucks, Service Providers, (of any kind) - Unescorted on the site.Concrete Mixers, Pump Trucks.Contracted Services; Crane Rental, Concrete Saw Cutting, Port-to-let Service Persons, etc.Union/Labor Officials.Roach Coach Drivers.Trash Removal Vehicles..Architects and Engineers, Inspectors, Client’s Staff/Owner’s Reps./Guests/VIPs.Engineering Service Providers: Concrete Testing, Compaction Testing, Air Monitoring, etc.City, County, State and Federal Officials: (Of all types).Vendor Sales Personnel or Product Installation Specialist(s).Other Utility Service Providers & Locators: Phone, Gas. Electric, Water, Sewer, Cable, etc.Transportation Industry; Trucking, Buses, Taxicabs, Rail, Ships, Aircraft.

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PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING.

NON-PARTICIPANTS, NO DIRECT NEED TO BE ON SITE:Pedestrians, Spectators, On-lookers, Sidewalk Superintendents and

the Just Plain Curious!Children (of all ages).Job Seekers, (all types).Joggers, Bicycle Riders, Skate Boarders, All Terrain Vehicles, Power

Walkers.Environmentalists independently reviewing compliance with

Laws/Restrictions..Scavengers, Wood collectors, Junk Collectors, Dumpster Divers.Lawyers, Investigators, Thieves, Burglars and Law Breakers.The Media: (Depending on circumstances).

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CONCERNS FOR SAFETY

PROBLEM:YOU HAVE A CONGESTED CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH PERSONNEL ON FOOT, AND MOBILE MACHINES WORKING IN THE SAME AREA, AT THE SAME TIME!

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Vision Statement

TO PROVIDE A SAFE WORKPLACE, FREE FROM ALL RECOGNIZEDHAZARDS...

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Goal and Objective

z PREVENT WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS!z PREVENT PERSONAL INJURIES

BETWEEN MOVING EQUIPMENT AND THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE ON FOOT.z YOU MUST SEE AND BE SEEN!!!

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Today’s Situation

z BEING STRUCK BY, OR CAUGHT IN-BETWEEN, ARE TWO OF THE LEADING CAUSE OF INJURIES AND FATALITIES ON CONSTRUCTION SITES!

z STRUCK BY (22%)

z CAUGHT IN-BETWEEN (18%)

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How Did We Get Here?

z A NATION-WIDE, PAST HISTORY OF PERSONS BEING STRUCK OR CRUSHED BY OPERATING OR MOVING EQUIPMENT.

z THE IMPRESSION THAT THE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR ALWAYS KNOWS WHERE THE GROUND PERSONNEL ARE LOCATED.

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Available Solutions

z Management Commitment z Employee Involvementz Pre-construction Work-Site Analysisz Hazard Prevention and Controlsz Equipment Maintenancez Employee Awareness Trainingz Periodically Review Procedures

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Management Commitment

z Restrict entry onto site of non-essential personnel.

z Establish Controlled Entry Points to site.z Coordinate Operations of Various Trades

Working in the Same Areas.z Provide Fundamental Site Rules and

Training to all Persons at Risk.z Adequate Lay-Down Areas Established.

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Employee Involvement

z All employees who are at risk must receive basic indoctrination.

z Absolute need to address problem with employees on a regular basis. (Toolbox Safety Meetings).

z Employees must learn, follow, and obey established rules.

z Realize that they must see, and be seen.

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Pre-Construction Work-Site Analysis

z Identify Potential Known Hazards.z Job Conditions: Haul Roads, Access Points.z Lay down/Storage Areas.z Office, Tool, Storage and Change Trailers.z Methods of Construction, (increases Risk?)z Also Consider: Unwanted side effects of the Job

Schedule.

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HAZARD PREVENTION and CONTROLS

z Perimeter Fencing, Enclosures, signs.z Spotters Provided for in-the-blind, backing

machines and/or equipment.z Poor Planing Forces Workers to Commit

Unsafe Acts! (office trailers, change trailers, haul roads, parking areas).

z Be Alert; Stay Clear; Hear Warnings.z Temporary Barricades around Hazards.

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PROPER EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

z Machine in Proper Working Order.z Back-up Alarm, Horn, Lights, Mirrors.z Cab Glass not Cracked or Broken.z Machine Windows, Mirrors, kept Clean.z Pre-Operational Inspection conducted by

Operator.z Prompt Repair of Any Noted Deficiencies!

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EMPLOYEE AWARENESS TRAINING

z Does Your Job Require You To Approach Moving or Backing Machines?

z How does the Operator Know Where You Are?

z Do You Understand all Signs, Markers and Flags? KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!

z You Must Always Be Alert to Changing Job Conditions and Your Particular Situation.

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EQUIPMENT OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

z GENERAL GUIDELINES:z Safety Features On Equipment, Know How They

Operate, and Use Them Properly.z Systematic Maintenance and Repair.z Trained Operators.z Trained Repair Personnel.z Pre-Operational Inspection of Equipment.z Review Manufacturer’s Operating Manual.

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EQUIPMENT OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

z SPECIFIC:z The Most Dangerous Movement is Backing!z Know Where your Blind Spots Are.z Look For People on Foot Around You.z STOP! When Signaled; When Waived at

Violently; Or If You Are In Doubt….z Maintain a Safe Operating Speed.

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EQUIPMENT OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

z Keep Machine Under Control at all Times.z Take Machine “Out of Service”, if it is

Unsafe to Operate.z Make Sure You Are Familiar with the

Operating Characteristics of your Machine.z Be On The Look-Out For Other Trades

Working in the Same Area.

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Where’s Waldo?

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EQUIPMENT OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

z Be Aware of Other Machines Operating In the Area. Frequently check for the Location of other Machines. Keep Lights and Backup Alarm in Operating Condition.

z Allow NO ONE to Ride Outside the Cab for Any Reason!

z Clean Windows and Adjust Mirrors.

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EQUIPMENT OPERATORRESPONSIBILIES

z Always inform Appropriate Personnel of any Abnormal Conditions, Defects, or Changes made in Machine and/or Job Procedure or Conditions.

z Report Unsafe Workers to Supervision.z Talk-up Safety with Those Who Work with

You. Maintain “Constant Awareness”.

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EQUIPMENT OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

z Do Not Attempt Repairs or Maintenance that You Do Not Understand.

z Always Check the Mirror on the Blind Side, making Sure of Your Clearance. (Backing on the Blind Side should be Avoided if at all Possible).

z Learn and Follow Safe Work Practices!

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MANUFACTURER’S RECOMENDATIONS

z CATERPILLAR STATES:z Clear all Personnel from the Machine and

the Area.z The Operator Must be Satisfied that No

One will be Endangered Before Moving the Machine.

z Look Behind Machine Before Backing.

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MANUFACTURER’S RECOMENDATIONS

z Have a Signalman Present when Moving In or Out of a Building (or structure).

z Stop Machine Frequently at Night, Walk Around and Inspect Machine, Stay Alert.

z Clear All Obstacles from the Path of the Machine, Beware of Hazards such as Wires, Ditches, etc..

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OBSERVATIONS

z Small Machines have small blind spots, where large machines have large blind spots, both can cause serious injury or death!

z The taller and wider the machine, the bigger the blind spot area.

z All Involved must give Constant Attention to what they are Doing!

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THE DANGER OF BEING STRUCK-BY

z ITEMS TO CONSIDER:z Revolving Machines; Cranes & Backhoes.z Struck By Attachments of Machines.z Drawbar Related Accidents, Hooking and

Unhooking.z Articulated Machines - Pinch Points.z Attaching Home Made Devices to a

Machine, Not Approved by Mfg., (Hooks).

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STANDING ON THE OPERATOR’S BLIND SIDE

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THE DANGER OF BEING STRUCK-BY

z The Hazard of a Water Cooler Mounted on a piece of Equipment.

z Storing Crew Lunch Boxes on Equipment.z Hand Tools Placed or Stored on Mobile

Equipment Platforms or Decks.z Environmental Design of the Machine;

Noise Suppression-Vs-Hearing Protection.

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IN DEFENSE OF THE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

z Where Do All these People Come From?z Machine Design; Not Much Thought given

to Persons on Foot in the Working Area.z Faster and Bigger Machines; Not as

Forgiving as Older, Slower, Machines. z Can’t See Everything that Goes on Around

the Machine.z Do Persons on Foot Realize the Danger?

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IN DEFENSE OF THE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

z The Operation of the Machine Requires Constant Attention.

z Who is Responsible for Whom?z What about when I have to Work in Close

Proximity to Persons on Foot.z Persons or Vehicles that Approach the

Equipment in My Blind Spots.z Do People on Foot Look Out for Us?

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Rubber-tired Backhoes -Known Hazards

Ground personnel caught in “pinch points” of machine or struck by moving machine attachments; buckets, backhoe boom, outriggers.

Loose or missing pins and keepers in loader linkages, cracks in lift arms, bucket attachments and the condition of the bucket itself.

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Rubber-tired Backhoes

Traveling at excessive speeds, loss of control.

Loose, sliding or bad ground conditions.

Using machine as a crane or the bucket as an aerial work platform.

Seat belt not worn by operator

Transporting personnel in Bucket.

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Rubber-tired Backhoes

Overloading the capacity of the machine.

Poorly-trained operator, [or] anyone on the crew is allowed to operate the machine.

Abuse or Misuse of the equipment.

Poor, or non-existing maintenance - [Wait

till it breaks before problems are fixed].