Employers should take the following site worker safety steps to protect workers from injury while working with excavators or backhoe loaders.
Site Workers
- Train site workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and to follow required safe work practices that apply to their work environments.
- Make all workers on the site aware of the machines’ established swing areas and blind sports before the operator works the machine. Keep workers on foot outside these areas by marking them with rope, take, or other barriers.
- Before each work shift begins, review and confirm communications signals between machine operators and workers on foot.
- Instruct machine operators to keep the bucket as close to the ground as possible when workers are attaching loads for hoisting.
- Keep workers outside the hydraulic excavator swing areas and clear of attachments when using the machines for hoisting materials. Do not allow workers to stand under suspended loads or suspended machine components such as the boom, arm, or bucket.
- Do not permit workers on foot to approach the hydraulic excavator or backhoe loader until they signal the operator to shut down the machine and receive acknowledgement from the operator.
- Use spotters or signal persons around operating equipment when necessary.
- Never permit workers to ride in or work from excavator or backhoe loader buckets.
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment and make sure that workers use and maintain it.
- Do not exceed load capacities when lifting materials.
- Instruct operators to lower the boom to a safe position with the bucket on the ground and turn off the machine before stepping off for any reason.
At Ron Meyer & Associate Excavating, Inc, we’ve been providing underground and commercial construction to private and commercial businesses for 39 years. As the general contractor or subcontractor, our experienced foremen, equipment operators, pipe layers, truck drivers and well-maintained equipment fleet make us an undeniable choice for your excavating services. Let’s talk about your project!
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As 45 years of experience as an underground/site contactor and a third generation contractor, Ron takes time to go through each individual project with the supervisor and is responsible for all scheduling and equipment logistics. He’s also involved in all troubleshooting for projects.