The Seven Stages of Safety
By Jeri Briegge

1. Awareness — There are thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths each year in the construction industry. Many of these could have been prevented by simply following the operating procedures and policies outlined by the equipment manufacturer and employer. Awareness reduces the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Supervisors, as well as operators, must be aware of manufacturer’s operating procedures along with employer’s operating and safety policies. This does not stop with equipment operation, but also includes all aspects of the job.

2. Pre-Work Inspection — Before beginning work with a piece of equipment, the operator needs to read and understand the operator’s manual for that piece of equipment. Being familiar with the controls and operating procedures and always operating from the operator’s position are critical to safe operation.

Next, the unit must be in good operating condition. Make sure all guards and shields are in place. Exposed belts, chains and shafts pose potential hazards. Check for leaks, but be cautious when checking leaks in pressurized hydraulic systems. A good way to determine if leaks exist is to look under the unit after it has sat overnight. Never use your bare hands to check for leaks. High pressure fluid escaping from a small hole in a hose or fitting can penetrate your skin. Hydraulic poisoning can lead to amputation or even death, so be careful. Be sure that all safety switches are connected and working according to the manufacturer’s design.

3. Loading and Transporting — The tow vehicle must be able to handle the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the loaded trailer as well as the tongue load.

Make sure the trailer and tow vehicle are properly connected and that the towing vehicle’s parking brake is set prior to loading equipment on trailer. With everyone clear of the loading area, put the equipment in the lowest gear or speed range and slowly load the machine onto the trailer. Lower all attachments not held by stow locks, set the parking brake if supplied and secure the machine to the trailer with tiedowns. Reverse the procedure for unloading the unit. Always follow all state and federal department of transportation (DOT) regulations.

4. Jobsite Preparation — Before beginning any job, contact your local One-Call service or the national One-Call service at 811 to locate and mark all underground utilities. In most cases, this should be done at least 48 hours prior to start of job but check your local and state regulations for One-Call regulations and notification. Knowledge of the laws in your area is important. Some states may not require all underground utility owners to be members of the One-Call system. In those instances, utility owners must be contacted separately. Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to help prevent damage to underground utilities.

Walk the jobsite looking for signs of buried utilities that may have been missed. These could include trench lines, utility risers and pads, meters or lines coming down utility poles and manholes. Other items that are often overlooked are yard lights, power to outbuildings and invisible dog fences.

5. Potential Hazards — When operating the unit, there are potential hazards to look out for in addition to buried utilities. When working on slopes, sidehills or uneven terrain, there is the danger of rolling the machine over. You can reduce some of the rollover dangers by always wearing your seatbelt if equipped. Never remove, weld onto or alter the rollover protection system (ROPS). Work up and down slopes when possible; when you have to work on a sidehill, keep all attachments close to the ground and uphill to lower the center of gravity. If operating a walk-behind unit, never stand on the downhill side of the equipment.
If working in dense underbrush or around trees, be aware of low-hanging branches that can snag control levers or catch on attachments.

Never operate any piece of equipment carelessly. Always keep operation slow and intentional, especially in crowded conditions. In congested areas, there is an increased chance of collisions so always be aware of where you are and what’s around you.

6. The Danger Zone — The operator, must be aware of co-workers and bystanders at all times. Inform co-workers and bystanders to stay at least 6 ft from the farthest reach of any attachment including a backhoe. When working in rocky conditions, the attachment can throw rocks from the trench and strike co-workers or bystanders.

When operating a machine with an exposed rotating shaft, the danger zone should be extended to 10 ft. Never stand on or grab a rotating shaft with your hands.

Other danger zone areas to look for include such areas as the plow and backhoe attachments, as well as the pinch point on articulating frame units. Avoid these by staying aware.

7. The Operator’s Responsibility — Equipment operators are responsible for ensuring equipment is operated safely and properly and the safety of co-workers and bystanders. However, safety must start with the supervisors and managers requiring that all operators are properly trained on each piece of equipment they operate. Having and enforcing safety policies and procedures and providing the needed training will greatly enhance safety on the job and potentially significantly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities that happen each year in this industry.

Jeri Briegge is the PR and advertising manager for Ditch Witch, Perry, Okla.