Falls from Equipment

TOOLBOXTOPICS.COM

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FALLS FROM EQUIPMENT

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The most frequent cause of serious injury to the operators and mechanics who run and maintain heavy construction equipment are falls. As equipment continues to increase in size, injuries from falls are becoming more severe.

One cause of falls is just plain poor housekeeping. Oil, grease, mud, tools and parts are left on decks until somebody steps on or stumbles over the material and falls. In cold weather, frost, snow and ice are left undisturbed until the sun melts them or a man slips and falls.

Steps, ladders and grab bars come installed on most new equipment these days. They are intended for your safety and should be used both in getting on the machine and getting off. If these items are damaged or missing, report them and have them repaired. If you think a step or grab bar is needed on your machine where none has been provided, ask for one. It doesn't take that long to bend a strap or bar and weld it on.

Defective catwalks and handrails on shovels and cranes are another cause of falls. If your rig needs this kind of repair, have it taken care of now.

Finally, many mechanics fall because they don't have a safe place to stand. You can do a better and faster job if you take time to get a stepladder, or a platform to work from than if you spend half your time trying to balance on a narrow sloping part of the machine you are working on.