Module 3: Heavy Equipment

Overview of Module 3
Introduction, Types Of Heavy Equipment Hazards Associated with Heavy Equipment Injury / Illness Prevention For Heavy Equipment Operations Summary Applicable Standards

Heavy Equipment
Examples of heavy equipment:
Excavating equipment Lifting equipment Loading and hauling equipment Compaction equipment Grading and finishing equipment Paving and surface treatment equipment

Integral part of roadway construction/maintenance

Excavating Equipment
Backhoes (used for surface or subsurface excavation of soft soils and sludge) Excavators (large backhoes, hydraulic powered) Front End Loaders (selfcontained unit mounted on rubber tires or tracks; can be equipped to operate as a loader, dozer, scraper, clamshell, forklift, backhoe, crane, auger, or sweeper)

Excavator

Front - end loader

Lifting Equipment
Cranes are the most commonly used lifting equipment
Cranes are used for raising, shifting and lowering loads They use projecting swinging arm or hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead truck

Crane

Loading and Hauling Equipment

Loaders
Used to excavate and move soft materials and load/unload trucks

Dozer (Bulldozer):
Used for pushing and pulling loads typically in earthwork operations and demolition work

Scrapers
Used for loading, hauling, dumping, and spreading loose materials

Dump Trucks
Most common type of hauling equipment due to their versatility.

Wagons
Earth moving trailers pulled by tractors

Loading and Hauling Equipment

Loader

Wagon

Dump truck

Dozer

Scraper

Compaction Equipment
Rollers:
Used for compacting road materials like soil, aggregates and bituminous mixtures

Commonly used rollers are:

Static steel-wheeled rollers Vibratory steel-wheeled rollers Pneumatic rollers

Steel Wheeled Roller

Pneumatic Tire Roller

Grading and Finishing Equipment

Graders:
Multi-purpose equipment used for: Finishing Shaping Bank sloping Ditching Mixing Spreading Side casting Leveling and crowning Site striping operations Earth road maintenance

Grader

Paving and Surface Treatment Equipment

Heavy equipment typically used in pavement and surface treatment operations are:
Aggregate spreaders Asphalt distributors, asphalt kettles Asphalt pavers Rotary power brooms Blowers or water sprays Pavement profilers Asphalt Distributor

Pavement Profiler

General Hazards
Poor repairs or service

Obstructed view in backing

Dirty or broken windows can block operators view of hazards

General Hazards
Striking people and collision with other equipment

Pinch points between equipment and objects

Worker under equipment

General Hazards
Riders falling off equipment or bucket Overturning of equipment Traveling empty at excessive speeds
Over turned truck

General Hazards
Unexpected electrical shock (e.g. overhead and underground power lines) Failure of lifting mechanisms/operational failures Ingress/egress difficulties Runaway machines ( Not blocking Risk of Hitting Power Line wheels upon parking or operators inability to control) Being struck by limbs of trees or other overhead obstructions, and by moving equipment Nearby Power Lines and Trees

Collision accident

Tip over accident

Rollover accident

Rollover accident

Injury/Illness Prevention for Heavy Equipment Operations

Safety rules for equipment operators Service and repairs Safety check for heavy equipment Safe operation around heavy equipment Other safety measures (using personal protective equipment, area and terrain hazards, unattended equipment) Safety measures for specific heavy equipment

Safety Rules for Equipment Operators

Only authorized persons should operate the heavy equipment (with appropriate training and/or licenses) Operators should know and understand the limitations of the machinery. They should follow safe operating procedures, utilize safety features, and heed the manufacturers warnings Operators should notify their supervisors when they are sick, fatigued, or taking medication that may affect their ability to safely operate machinery

Safety Checks for Heavy Equipment

Before the start of each shift, the operator should use a check list and do the following:
Approach equipment, walk fully around it and look for hazards Check lights, tires, suspension and steering system, fluid levels, exterior hoses and filters. Look for unguarded moving parts or other unsafe conditions. Inside the cab, remove trash, make sure windows are clean, adjust mirrors, check fire extinguisher, turn on all exterior lights, make sure seatbelt is ready to use. Start engine; check gauges and warning lights; check engine sounds. Before moving, warn people in the area; test equipments movements; make sure back up alarms can be heard.

Safe Operation Around Heavy Equipment

On-foot workers should be trained to work safely around the equipment
Wear high visibility clothing Do not assume operators can see you

Signal person may be used to assist the operator Good communication is essential
Use standardized hand signals Use walkie-talkies (two-way-radios) This worker is clearly visible!

Keep back up alarms working properly at all times

Hand Signals

Other Safety Measures

Heavy equipment must be equipped with a rollover protective measures (e.g. outriggers). Use seat belt and required PPE when operating your equipment (e.g. hard hats, gloves, steel toe shoes, reflective clothing) Use appropriate hearing protection when working on or around loud equipment. Do not wear loose fitting clothes that may caught in moving parts

Types of Hearing Protection

Proper seat belt use on equipment

Other Safety Measures

Never jump onto or off the equipment (three point rule: having both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands in contact with the ladder access all the time) Never operate any of the controls from any position except the operators seat Never permit anyone to ride on the equipment Never refuel when the engine is running DO NOT SMOKE when refueling

Worker with Hearing Protection

Other Safety Measures

Be aware of area and terrain!
Stumps, rocks, and hidden debris can cause overturns Watch for low tree limbs; they can knock an operator off the equipment Trees, traffic signals & power Inspect banks and slopes for lines in close proximity stability Plan path of travel downhill on steep slopes Beware of wet or icy surfaces Never take shortcuts Check the area for underground Temporary road near utilities and overhead power lines edge of embankment

Other Safety Measures

When equipment is left unattended make sure that:
All elevated work surfaces such as buckets and lifts are lowered All moving parts are disengaged and their motion has stopped Transmission is in appropriate parking position Engine is off, and vehicle is secure Equipment is secure against movement

Heavy equipment on bridge project

Safety Measures for Specific Heavy Equipment

For crane operations: Never hoist any unknown weights When handling a heavy load, raise it a few inches first to ensure whether the load is balanced Before hoisting near-capacity load, keep the hoisting line vertical Dual lift shall be done with only supervision Note that coverage is limited here. For detailed information refer to OSHA standard (Subpart N 1926.550) for cranes.

Safety Measures for Specific Heavy Equipment

For asphalt paving operations: Make sure fire-extinguishing equipment (foam type) is present at all times. Ensure that asphalt distributor or asphalt kettle are in a level position (before heating) and are located at a safe distance from buildings and any flammable materials. Avoid exposure to fumes from hot bituminous material-stay on the windward side. Wear gloves and full body clothing to avoid prolonged skin contact or burns from hot bituminous material

Case Study
Worker Run Over By a Dump Truck
(Source: Minnesota FACE Report No. 92MN007)

Case Study: Facts

A member of a highway paving crew died from being run over by a rear end dump truck that was backing up The dump trucks were hauling/unloading concrete to a paver for spreading Victim was guiding drivers of several dump trucks while repositioning their vehicles Victim died from loss of excessive blood

Case Study:
Operation and Initial Circulation Pattern of Dump Trucks
Dump trucks drove towards the paver, turned around in a blacktopped area, and proceeded backwards to the paver where they dumped their concrete load
Dump Trucks
Paver Turn-a-round

Trucks drove away on the left side, opposite to normal traffic patterns

Case Study:
Paver had advanced to a position where the blacktopped area could no longer be used by trucks to make the turn-a-round A new circulation pattern was to be used to access the paver
Trucks waiting in line had to reposition themselves Victim was guiding the truck movements

Case Study: Incident Details

Victim was asked to instruct the drivers of dump trucks waiting in line to a different position
Victim was behind Truck 1 (see next slide) and gave the signal to back up At the same time another truck (Truck 2) was pulling up to join the line of trucks As victim was signaling Truck 2 to stop, he entered the blind spot of the driver of Truck 1 and was in the vehicles path Truck 1s back-up alarm was operational and the driver of Truck 2 was trying to warm the worker

Victim was hit by Truck 1and was pushed 14 feet on the blacktop

Case Study:
Intended Route of Backing Truck at Time of Incident
Turn-a-round

Truck 2

Truck 1

Victim

Paver

Case Study: NIOSH Recommendations

Workers should direct only traffic moving in one direction on busy, noisy construction sites In employee safety training, include information about human inaccuracy in estimating the arrival time of a moving vehicle Equip trucks used on construction sites with rearview sonar which alarms drivers of close proximity to objects behind them

Applicable Standards
OSHA Construction
1926.600, Motor vehicles, mechanized equipment and marine operations. 1926.601, Motor vehicles. 1926.602, Material handling equipment.

MIOSHA Section B Construction

CS Part 10, Lifting and digging equipment CS Part 13, Mobile equipment CS Part 25, Concrete construction

CALOSHA Subchapter 4 Construction Safety

Article 9, Derricks, Cranes, Boom-Type Excavators (Section 1581-1589) Article 10, Haulage and Earth Moving (Sections 1590-1596)

Summary of Module
Various types of heavy equipment are used in highway construction projects Large machinery operating in confined area with potential threat of:
Striking on-foot worker due to vision restrictions/inattention Striking overhead/underground power lines Being involved in collision with other equipment

Summary of Module
General safety precautions covered in this module are applicable to all heavy equipment
Specific operating instructions and warnings should be carefully reviewed

Understanding the hazards associated with heavy equipment and their injury prevention techniques are critical to improve worker safety