Construction sites are some of the most hectic places that you can be in. Workers use powerful chemicals in their work, work at great heights , enter confined and often dangerous areas and are also constantly in close proximity to large and dangerous heavy machinery. A large number of workers that are injured or killed on site are machine workers and drivers. One of the most used pieces of heavy machinery that is used on many construction sites is the Excavator. It is used in a variety of different jobs and is often in more dangerous situations than most machines.
The more compact and smaller size of excavators allows workers to work in more confined areas and in locations of varying terrain and safety. This puts vehicle drivers using the excavator, as well as the workers that oversee the machine in danger. The varied attachments that an excavator can use also pose a variety of dangers, depending on the attachment.
To prevent any injuries while using an excavator or working near one, we have a few tips that will help limit the amount of injuries.
A good idea is to scope out the area where the excavator will be working. Regardless of the size of the current site, it is imperative to do a thorough inspection of the site to identify any possible threats or dangers. After inspection has been made, the next step is to do a risk assessment on how to secure the area and make it safe for work. The pre inspection of the site also allows you to know which equipment to use an disregard.
The next step is to mark off the area where the excavator will be working. This allows workers to know that the area is occupied by the machine and extra caution should be taken when in and around the area. The size of the marked area is also dependant on the type of equipment the excavator uses and the job it has. Excavators do a lot of varied work that that can often affect the surrounding area. It can leave rubble that can cause workers to trip, it can weaken the surrounding surface or it can send debris flying. Therefor it is a good idea to take the job of the excavator in consideration when marking an area.
When in the area where an excavator is working, always pay attention to your surroundings. Excavators can affect the terrain they work in often leaving debris, shrapnel, and other hazardous materials in the area after working. This can cause serious problems, not only for the workers but also for other machinery that are at the site. Just cleaning up after an excavator can avoid a lot of problems and headaches. An excavator can also disrupt the surrounding terrain and cause additional problems if caution is not taken.
