CONSTRUCTION

OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND
HEALTH

Construction Heavy Equipment

FSE Raymond G. Blanco

 OBJECTIVES
• This session is devoted to
educate those who work around
or operate heavy equipments,
since these machines possess
the capability to cause serous
injury or death
• Know the control measures and
programs that should be in place
to prevent heavy equipment-
related accidents.

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 CONCERNED PERSONNEL
• Equipment Operator
• Workers on foot
• Spotters
• Management people and
supervisors
• Other construction site
personnel.
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Construction Heavy Equipment
WHAT ARE THESE
CONSTRUTION
HEAVY
EQUIPMENT?
 HEAVY EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO THEY DO?
Dump Truck Hauls materials and
debris away; delivers
sand or other
materials to a site.

Forklift Moves materials

around a site; unloads
trucks.

Grader Makes a roadbed

smooth by dragging a
blade over it.

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 HEAVY EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO THEY DO?
Compactor or Roller Smoothes and
compacts the road
with a heavy roller.

Bulldozer Moves dirt, stones, or

other materials.

Concrete Mixer Mixes water, sand,

gravel, and cement to
make concrete.

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 HEAVY EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO THEY DO?
Crane Lifts heavy things

Tower Crane Lifts beams, pipes,

batches of concrete or
other materials to high
places

Mobile Crane Crane that moves on

wheels

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 HEAVY EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO THEY DO?
Excavator or Digger Digs deep holes

Crawler Trucks Prevent the machine

from sinking into the
ground

Front-end loader Lifts and transport

heavy materials

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 HEAVY EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO THEY DO?
Backhoe Loader Uses a bucket on the
back for digging and
has a loader on front
for lifting

Cherry Picker Lifts a worker in a

bucket

Outriggers or Keep equipment

Stabilizers stable so it does not
tip over

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Construction Heavy Equipment
 CONCERN
• Many types of mobile construction heavy equipment are
being used in a construction site doing a wide variety of
work. Most of these machines operate within close
proximity to persons on foot. With this, many people are
exposed to hazards associated with these equipments.
• In short, you have a congested construction site with
personnel on foot, and mobile machines working in the
same area at the same time!

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CONSTRUCTION HEAVY
EQUIPMENT ACCIDENTS

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 17
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A VERY SAD STORY
TREE
OPERATOR
(Victim # 1)
EXCAVATOR
Fig 1: Excavator parked Fig 2: While the operator was
by the operator 4 inches exiting the cab, the excavator
from a tree. turned towards the tree and
pinned and crushed the
operator against the tree.
Construction Heavy Equipment
SPVR
(Victim # 2)
Fig 3: The supervisor reached
into the cab and pushed control
to release the victim, the
excavator turned the other way
and also pinned the supervisor
against the tree.
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ALL OF THESE
THINGS MAY
HAPPEN AT
YOUR SITE!
 PERSONS AT RISK ASIDE FROM
THE OPERATOR
PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY
EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING

• NEED TO BE ON SITE ON REGULAR BASIS

– Signal persons, spotters/flaggers

– Grade checkers, dump persons
– Equipment operators.
– Laborers, steel workers and carpenters.
– Foremen, supervisors, and other related contractor staff.
– Surveyors, layout crews.
– Any other crafts and/or trades working on the project, or passing
through the work areas.

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 PERSONS AT RISK ASIDE FROM
THE OPERATOR
PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY
EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING

• NEED TO BE ON SITE ON A PERIODIC BASIS

– Delivery Trucks, Service Providers
– Mechanics
– Concrete Mixers
– Garbage haulers
– LGU/Labor Officials/Other people independently reviewing
compliance with Laws/Restrictions
– Architects and Engineers, Inspectors, Client’s Staff/Owner’s
Reps./Guests/VIPs
– Engineering Service Providers: Concrete Testing, Compaction
Testing, Air Monitoring, etc
– Other Utility Service Providers: Phone, Gas, Electric, Water,
Sewer, Cable, etc.

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 PERSONS AT RISK ASIDE FROM
THE OPERATOR
PERSONS PUT AT RISK BY WORKING AROUND, OR BEING NEAR, HEAVY
EQUIPMENT WHILE IT IS OPERATING.

• NO DIRECT NEED TO BE ON SITE

– Pedestrians, spectators, on-lookers, and the Just Plain Curious!

– Children (of all ages)
– Job seekers
– Joggers, bicycle riders
– Scavengers, wood collectors, junk and scrap collectors
– Thieves, burglars and law breakers
– The media (depending on circumstances).

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HAZARDS PRESENT IN CONSTRUCTION HEAVY
EQUIPMENT OPERATION
• Moving parts of the equipment
• Uneven terrain
• Energized electrical lines
• Fall
• Dust
• Overloaded equipment
• Noise
• Vibration
• Unsecured loads
• Improvised attachments
• Blind spot.

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 BLIND SPOTS
• Small heavy mobile equipment have small blind
spots and heavy mobile equipment have large
blind spots, both can cause serious injury or
death
• The taller and wider the machine, the bigger the
blind spot area
• Operators, spotters and workers on foot need to
be aware were the blind spots are.

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BLIND SPOTS – DUMP TRUCK

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BLIND SPOTS - BULLDOZER

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BLIND SPOTS – LIFTER

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BLIND SPOTS-GRADER

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BLIND SPOTS - BACKHOE

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BLIND SPOTS – SKID STEER LOADER

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BLIND SPOTS – SCISSOR LIFT

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BLIND SPOTS-LOADER

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 RESPONSIBILITIES OF WORKERS ON
FOOT

• Wearing of high visibility vests or equivalent and

other appropriate PPE’s.
• Keep a safe distance from heavy equipments
• Know the equipment’s blind spots. Never
assume that the equipment operator sees you
• Never ride on the steps or drawbars of any
equipment.
• Watch out for swinging parts.

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SPOTTER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Wearing of high visibility vests or

equivalent and other appropriate PPE’s.
• Spotters should use clearly understood
hand signals or traffic control devices ,
(i.e. signs, etc.)
• Spotters should know operator visibility
limitations, always remain visible to the
operator and be sure eye contact is
made before any signals are given.

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 5 BASIC GUIDELINES ON HEAVY
EQUIPMENT OPERATION
• When using heavy equipment, there are 5 basic
guidelines that the operators must always follow to
ensure safety:
1. Know how to properly operate the equipment you are using
2. Do not use heavy machinery when you are drowsy,
intoxicated, or taking prescription medication that may affect
your performance
3. Use only equipment that is appropriate for the work to be
done
4. Inspect your equipment to ensure that it is in good working
condition before beginning a job. In addition, ensure that
regular inspections and maintenance are conducted as
appropriate
5. Do not stress or overload your equipment.

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 EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Learn and follow Safe Work Practices!
• Review manufacturer’s operating manual
• Conduct pre-operational inspection of equipment.
• Know how to operate and use safety features on
equipment properly
• Allow NO ONE to ride outside the cab for any
reason!
• Keep all lights, back-up alarm, seat belts, mirrors,
shields and safety guards in place and in good
condition.

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 EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Be aware of people on foot around you and other
machines operating in the area.
• Know where your blind spots are and always
check the mirror on the blind side.
• Avoid underground utilities and overhead power
lines.
• Must understand signals and always obey the
spotter.
• Stop! when signaled; when waived at violently; or
if you are in doubt
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 EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Maintain a safe operating speed.
• Operate within the equipment’s rated capacity.
• Report any abnormalities, defects and unsafe
condition. Take Machine “Out of Service”, if it is
unsafe to operate
• Do Not Attempt Repairs or Maintenance that You
Do Not Understand
• Never get on or off moving equipment. Park in a safe
place, apply parking brakes, turn off engine and
remove the key before dismounting.
• Turn the engine off before refueling
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 EQUIPMENT MOUNTING
AND DISMOUNTING
• Park in an area that provides maximum
protection for operator and passengers and
which provides a solid landing during mounting
and dismounting.
• When mounting or dismounting, use all steps
and all handholds provided.
• Do not jump from equipment!
• Use the three-point-contact method.

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 KEY ELEMENTS IN HEAVY EQUIPMENT
SAFETY PROGRAM
• Management Commitment
• Employee Involvement
• Pre-construction Work-Site Analysis
• Hazard Prevention and Controls
• Equipment Maintenance
• Employee Awareness Training
• Periodically Review Policies and Procedures

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MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT
• Promote culture of Safety and Health
• Provide fundamental site rules and training to all
persons at risk
• Restrict entry onto site of non-essential
personnel. Establish controlled entry points to
site
• Coordinate operations of various trades working
in the same areas
• Efficient and effective procurement system.

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 EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT
• Attend relevant trainings.
• Employees must learn, follow, and obey safety
and other established rules
• Discuss safety concerns and issues (e.g.
through Toolbox Safety Meetings or by reporting
to the supervisor or safety officer).

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 PRE-CONSTRUCTION
WORK- SITE ANALYSIS
• Identify potential known hazards (e.g. using JHA.)
• Consider office, tool, laydown areas, storage areas
• Whenever possible plan your site to allow for drive
through operations, to eliminate backing-up
• Reduce the amount of foot traffic allowed on the
jobsite
• Establish a traffic control system using traffic lights
or spotters.

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HAZARD PREVENTION AND
CONTROLS
• Application of Engineering &
Administrative Controls and use of
PPE’s.
– Install perimeter fencing and enclosures
– Install/post signs
– Install temporary barricades around
hazards
– Spotters (with appropriate PPE) provided
for in-the-blind, backing machines and/or
equipment
– Choosing and using the appropriate type
of equipment.
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 PROPER EQUIPMENT
MAINTENANCE
• Pre-operational inspection conducted by
operator.
• Maintain equipment in safe and proper condition
• Maintain safety features such as back-up alarm,
horn, lights, limit switches, overload protection
and mirrors intact and good condition
• Cab glass or guard not cracked or broken
• Clean machine windows and mirrors

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 PROPER EQUIPMENT
MAINTENANCE
• Periodic preventive
maintenance as per
manufacturer
recommendation
• Prompt repair of any
noted deficiencies
• No modifications
• Refresh labels, signs,
instructions, charts, etc.

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OPERATOR AUTHORIZATION
• Operating a heavy
equipment is a great
responsibility. Operation is
reserved only for safe and
responsible operators
• A policy and procedure on
authorization of heavy
equipment operators must
be in place. The operator
must be competent, trained
and in good health.

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D.O.13 – ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT

• Section 7.2
“The General Constructor must provide for one
(1)Construction Safety and Health Officer for
every ten (10) units of heavy equipment
assigned to the project site, to oversee the
effective compliance with the Construction
Safety and Health Program at the construction
project site, in terms of heavy equipment
utilization and maintenance”

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D.O.13 – ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT

• Section 10.1-a
“All heavy equipment operators assigned at the
project site must be tested and certified in
accordance with a standard trade test
prescribed by TESDA in coordination with its
accredited organization/s”
• Section 10.2.4-a
“Only duly certified operators shall be allowed to
operate their designated heavy equipment”

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 CONCLUSION
• Heavy equipments are
powerful machines that
are vital in every
construction project.
However, more power
also means higher risks.
• Both the operators and
men on foot are
responsible in ensuring
safety around these
heavy equipments.

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