How To Improve Safety When Using Construction Vehicles

Quite often, construction sites can be very dangerous areas. Things can go wrong in a hurry and when they do, you need to pay attention and be ready to address these issues immediately!

The objects you will have to deal with at a typical job site are heavy equipment, glass, sharp metal, soil, chemicals, and more. So, if you don’t follow the most basic safety policies during construction or maintenance work, things can quickly turn from bad to worse. After all, with the use of heavy machinery and working with other people around you, it is important to always have safety at the top of your mind, especially when dealing with heavy construction vehicles.

In that context, it doesn’t matter whether your workers have to drive a bulldozer on site or operate a front-end loader, it’s important that they know how to use and operate these machines. In addition, as their employer, you should also do everything within your power to protect your drivers because there are situations where construction workers could run into one another or even cause injuries or property damage. 

In order to improve the safety of your workers and on your construction site, it’s crucial that you follow the following safety tips when using construction vehicles. 

Make Sure Your Vehicles Are Visible To Others 

Your vehicles may be working on a construction site where there are many different types of vehicles such as construction trucks, dump trucks, forklifts, and more. One way you can improve the safety of your vehicles is by installing an LED amber strobe beacon recovery light bar on top of each vehicle’s cabin. This type of light bar is placed on the top of your vehicle and flashes at different frequencies to alert other drivers that there is a hazard ahead. 

If your drivers are working near any type of roadway or parking lot, this can be very helpful in preventing accidents by alerting other drivers to slow down or stop before they hit you or your equipment. 

Another great benefit of using an LED amber strobe beacon recovery light bar is that it prevents blind spots for drivers who may be approaching from behind or alongside your vehicle. Blind spots are areas where you can’t see clearly because obstacles are blocking your view from inside or outside the vehicle itself.

However, before installing these off-road lights, check your state laws to make sure you aren’t breaking them. Although light bars are encouraged while driving off-road, it’s dangerous to use them on public roads. This has led some states to make the use of such lights illegal. To avoid a ticket and stay safe, you need to know your state laws regarding off-road lighting.

Make Sure You Have Proper Entering And Exiting Equipment 

If you must use a forklift or other heavy machinery on your project site, make sure you have properly trained employees who know how to operate them safely. You should also make sure these employees know how to enter and exit their machines safely — especially if they’re working on scaffolding or similar areas where it would be difficult for them to get off the machine quickly if something went wrong. This means ensuring that all safety devices such as seat belts, foot pedals, and hand brakes are working properly before each use. 

 

Before Use, Always Inspect The Equipment 

It’s essential that you inspect all construction equipment before use. You should inspect all moving parts, including the tires and blade or bucket, and make sure they’re in good condition. If any part of the machine isn’t working correctly, do not use it until it has been repaired by a professional. You should also check that all lights are working correctly and that there are no loose or missing parts on the machine. 

Only Use Equipment As Intended 

It’s a common mistake for people to use equipment incorrectly. For example, forklifts are designed to carry loads up and down ramps, not sideways. Using them in this way can cause accidents that can lead to serious injuries or even death. Similarly, cranes are designed for lifting heavy objects vertically — not horizontally or diagonally — so using them incorrectly can also cause problems. 

Make Sure Employees Know How To Operate Equipment Safely 

Even if you have a fleet of forklifts in your company, chances are there will be times when an employee needs to operate one without assistance from another person. That means they need to know how to use it correctly. Make sure every employee has taken the time to learn how to operate all of the equipment in your fleet before letting them do so unsupervised. 

Keep the Area Clear of Debris 

When you are operating a heavy machine such as a bulldozer or crane, it is important to keep an eye out for debris so you do not accidentally run over something that could cause damage to your vehicle. This includes making sure no branches are lying on the ground or pieces of broken glass. If you see something that could cause damage to your vehicle, stop immediately and call in someone else who has experience with machines so they can remove it from the area before continuing with their work. 

Final Thoughts 

Safety is the number one concern when operating heavy machinery. Even a small accident can quickly turn from bad to worse, so knowing how to properly operate heavy construction equipment is extremely important. If you’re in charge of a construction site for your company, make sure that everyone operating heavy machinery follows these safety tips as much as possible.

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