Heavy Equipment Hazards and Requirements
By Mike Rich- Safety Services Company
Published: July 25, 2011
Summary
Earthmoving equipment or heavy equipment refers to a select set of large construction vehicles used to move soil, rock and other heavy objects.
Due to the large nature of this equipment, when accidents occur they are often tragic.
While OSHA does not have a specific regulation for each piece of equipment, the federal organization requires you to train your employees on the hazards of equipment, proper, usage and more.
This training must be provided to both the workers using the equipment and anyone else who may come into contact with the equipment.
Due to the large nature of this equipment, when accidents occur they are often tragic.
While OSHA does not have a specific regulation for each piece of equipment, the federal organization requires you to train your employees on the hazards of equipment, proper, usage and more.
This training must be provided to both the workers using the equipment and anyone else who may come into contact with the equipment.
Related
- Spilling the Truth on Bloodborne Pathogen Training(July 26, 2011)
- Fall Protection and Requirements (July 25, 2011)
- Aerial Lift Hazards and Training Requirements (July 25, 2011)
Types of Earthmoving Equipment
Backhoe- also called a rear actor or back actor, consist of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. This bucket is mounted on the back of a tractor or a front loader. The section of the arm closest to the vehicle is the boom, and the section carrying the bucket is the dipper or dipperstick. The boom is attached to the vehicle through a pivot known as the kingpost, which allows the arm to slew left and right, usually through a total of around 200 degrees. The machine is typically powered by hydraulics.
Loader- A loader (also known as: bucket loader, front loader, front end loader, payloader, scoop loader, shovel, skip loader, and/or wheel loader) is a type of wheel or track mounted vehicle commonly used to move stockpiled material from ground level and deposit it into an awaiting dump truck or into an open trench excavation.
The vehicle consists of a bucket mounted to two boom arms mounted to the front of the vehicle.. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools—for example, many can mount forks to lift heavy pallets or shipping containers, and a hydraulically-opening "clamshell" bucket allows a loader to act as a light dozer or scraper. The bucket can also be augmented with devices like a bale grappler for handling large bales of nay and straw.
Skid loader- A skid loader or skid steer loader is a small solid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms. A variety of different tools can be attached to the arms. Though sometimes equipped with tracks, skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels to increase maneuverability.
Unlike in a conventional front loader, the lift arms are alongside the driver with the pivot points behind the driver's shoulders. Because of the operator's proximity to moving booms, skid loaders are not as safe as conventional front loaders.
Bulldozer- A bulldozer is typically a tracked mounted vehicle equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work. Typically the dozer will feature a claw-like device (known as a ripper) on the rear of the vehicle to loosen densely-compacted materials. The term "bulldozer" is often used for any heavy equipment but precisely, the term refers only to a tractor fitted with a dozer blade.
Excavator- Excavators are heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, bucket and cab on a rotating platform (known as the "house"). The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. All movement and functions of the excavator are accomplished through the use of hydraulic fluid, be it with rams or motors. Their design is a natural progression of the steam shovel.
Backhoe- also called a rear actor or back actor, consist of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. This bucket is mounted on the back of a tractor or a front loader. The section of the arm closest to the vehicle is the boom, and the section carrying the bucket is the dipper or dipperstick. The boom is attached to the vehicle through a pivot known as the kingpost, which allows the arm to slew left and right, usually through a total of around 200 degrees. The machine is typically powered by hydraulics.
Loader- A loader (also known as: bucket loader, front loader, front end loader, payloader, scoop loader, shovel, skip loader, and/or wheel loader) is a type of wheel or track mounted vehicle commonly used to move stockpiled material from ground level and deposit it into an awaiting dump truck or into an open trench excavation.
The vehicle consists of a bucket mounted to two boom arms mounted to the front of the vehicle.. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools—for example, many can mount forks to lift heavy pallets or shipping containers, and a hydraulically-opening "clamshell" bucket allows a loader to act as a light dozer or scraper. The bucket can also be augmented with devices like a bale grappler for handling large bales of nay and straw.
Skid loader- A skid loader or skid steer loader is a small solid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms. A variety of different tools can be attached to the arms. Though sometimes equipped with tracks, skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels to increase maneuverability.
Unlike in a conventional front loader, the lift arms are alongside the driver with the pivot points behind the driver's shoulders. Because of the operator's proximity to moving booms, skid loaders are not as safe as conventional front loaders.
Bulldozer- A bulldozer is typically a tracked mounted vehicle equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work. Typically the dozer will feature a claw-like device (known as a ripper) on the rear of the vehicle to loosen densely-compacted materials. The term "bulldozer" is often used for any heavy equipment but precisely, the term refers only to a tractor fitted with a dozer blade.
Excavator- Excavators are heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, bucket and cab on a rotating platform (known as the "house"). The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. All movement and functions of the excavator are accomplished through the use of hydraulic fluid, be it with rams or motors. Their design is a natural progression of the steam shovel.
OSHA Requirements
OSHA has stated through regulation, 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) that employers must train all employees on the hazards of the workplace.
In the case of earth moving equipment this means a policy is necessary that describes proper use of equipment, hazards associated with equipment, appropriate personal protection equipment and more.
If this program is not in place you can face fines of more than $7,000 and possible lawsuit.
In the case of earth moving equipment this means a policy is necessary that describes proper use of equipment, hazards associated with equipment, appropriate personal protection equipment and more.
If this program is not in place you can face fines of more than $7,000 and possible lawsuit.
Hazards of Earthmoving Equipment
Accidents at construction sites are, unfortunately, common occurrences across the U.S. with more than 150,000 construction-related injury accidents happen every year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Cal/OSHA requires permits be obtained for several types of work. Examples of work requiring a permit includes:
• One out of every 10-construction industry employees is injured annually
• 1,000 construction workers are killed every year on-site
• A typical construction injury results in more than 30 days of missed work
• Construction workers, under the age of 35, have a higher incidence of injury
• Injuries to the back and ribs are the most common
The numbers are not surprising. Construction is an industry full of many different kinds of hazards: scaffolding and other high-off-the-ground structures;, machinery and materials; dangerous power tools like saws; potentially toxic and explosive chemicals; excessive noise; and large amounts of activity going on all at once.
One of the largest hazards is earth moving equipment.
Earthmoving equipment is often the most powerful type of tool used on a job site. Hazards with this type of equipment include employees being ran over, falling from, trapped behind, trapped in, crushed from falling objects, vehicle to vehicle accidents and more.
While the sheer number of those injuries is staggering, the financial impact they place on employers is overwhelming.
An annual study conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in 2010, revealed that the direct cost to employers from injuries in 2008 was $53.42 billion. [1]
Furthermore the study concluded that accidents at the workplace were estimated to cost employers an additional $80 to $200 billion annually.
A second report by the U.S. Department of Labor cemented the finding of the insurance groups report. This report stated the average workplace injury cost an employer $43,000. The same study estimated the cost from wage replacement due to injury to be roughly $50 billion a year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Cal/OSHA requires permits be obtained for several types of work. Examples of work requiring a permit includes:
• One out of every 10-construction industry employees is injured annually
• 1,000 construction workers are killed every year on-site
• A typical construction injury results in more than 30 days of missed work
• Construction workers, under the age of 35, have a higher incidence of injury
• Injuries to the back and ribs are the most common
The numbers are not surprising. Construction is an industry full of many different kinds of hazards: scaffolding and other high-off-the-ground structures;, machinery and materials; dangerous power tools like saws; potentially toxic and explosive chemicals; excessive noise; and large amounts of activity going on all at once.
One of the largest hazards is earth moving equipment.
Earthmoving equipment is often the most powerful type of tool used on a job site. Hazards with this type of equipment include employees being ran over, falling from, trapped behind, trapped in, crushed from falling objects, vehicle to vehicle accidents and more.
While the sheer number of those injuries is staggering, the financial impact they place on employers is overwhelming.
An annual study conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in 2010, revealed that the direct cost to employers from injuries in 2008 was $53.42 billion. [1]
Furthermore the study concluded that accidents at the workplace were estimated to cost employers an additional $80 to $200 billion annually.
A second report by the U.S. Department of Labor cemented the finding of the insurance groups report. This report stated the average workplace injury cost an employer $43,000. The same study estimated the cost from wage replacement due to injury to be roughly $50 billion a year.
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