1. Cranes. 3. Hazardous Chemicals. 4. Signs. 2. Trenching and Excavations

Transcription

1 A Safe Operation Safety Tips for Heavy Construction

2 1. Cranes Cranes are a common piece of equipment on heavy construction jobsites. Always perform a walk around inspection before and after each shift to ensure the crane is in safe operating condition. As you are operating the crane, be aware of your surroundings at all times because the conditions and the location of people and objects may change. It is also important to be aware of power lines and ensure there is adequate distance between the crane and the line to prevent contact. To fully understand the task you will be performing, familiarize yourself with the jobsite. Inspect the wire rope for kinking, crushing, bird caging or any other damage resulting in distortion or structural damage. Additionally, inspect the hook and latch, or other attachments, for any structural damage. Wire rope or other rigging equipment should be removed for service if damaged. Attachments used with cranes cannot exceed the capacity recommended by the manufacturer. Rated load capacities for the crane and attachments need to be posted in a visible location where the operator can see them while seated at the control station. Review and comply with the manufacturer s specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of any crane Trenching and Excavations Safety is extremely important when working in or around a trench or excavation area. Before any digging or trenching takes place, you must call the proper utility companies so they can mark any underground lines or pipes. Protective structures should be properly placed before entering an excavation area. When using a trench box, be sure to utilize all spacers provided with the trench box. If the spacers or braces are bent request new ones to be installed before entering the excavation. Machines working around the excavation area must also be properly equipped with a warning device to alert people in the trenches or excavations that they are approaching. If a warning device is not available on the equipment, use barricades or other signs to warn equipment drivers to stay away. Train all the employees on these processes. A ladder, or other authorized means of access and egress, from the trench or excavation must be provided. Be sure you are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment for the job as required by the company guidelines Hazardous Chemicals Working around hazardous chemicals requires special personal protective equipment. Associated hazards vary greatly from minor to significant burns, possible respiratory problems and skin irritations. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information about the chemicals, including types of hazards and treatment. Always read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet before using any chemicals. When working around chemicals make certain that everyone on the jobsite who is exposed to the chemicals is trained and understands the hazards, and how to Tips - Hazardous Chemicals mitigate the risk of these hazards. Never Chemicals can cause harmful health use any chemical for an unintended use. issues so always read and understand the Know the chemical hazards, proper use, manufacturer s MSDS. the required PPE for use and proper disposal procedure. 4. Signs Tips - Signs Signs help communicate possible safety hazards. Using signs will enhance the safety of your jobsite. Be aware that the use of too many signs can diminish their effectiveness. A picture is worth a thousand words. Warning signs alert people to unexpected conditions that may not be apparent. Signs also alert people to changing conditions, such as reducing speed or uneven surfaces ahead. Using signs allows you to better communicate any possible danger zones to people. Clearly mark areas of work and allow enough time for the people to exercise caution before entering a work zone. Using warning signs, stop signs or general signs helps to communicate that work is being done. Effectively communicating with your employees and anyone who enters your work zone about the work being done makes your work area a safer place for everyone.

3 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE is designed to protect employees from workplace hazards that could cause serious injuries or illnesses. Consult your jobsite safety coordinator or supervisor for the required PPE needed for your job. Common PPE for a construction site includes hard hats, eye protection, high-visibility vests, steel toed safety boots, gloves and hearing protection. Tips - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Perform a jobsite assessment and determine the proper PPE required before you begin working. Be sure to inspect all of your safety equipment before each shift. Look for cracks on hard hats or scratches on safety glasses and always replace damaged PPE before the job begins. 6. Fall Protection Heavy Construction work does not always take place at ground level. Slips, trips and falls are common causes of injuries in the industry. There are different ways to prevent falls. One way includes using guardrails and handrails. To ensure the safety of workers below you, utilize toe boards to prevent materials from falling off the platform. If guardrails and handrails are not feasible, use fall restraints which include fixed lanyards and a harness to keep a person from reaching the fall hazard. If there are no other options to protect workers from falling, use fall arrest systems. This means the worker must be tied-off to an approved tie-off point wearing a full body harness. Fully inspect your harness and lanyard before wearing it. Inspect the jobsite first and identify and remove any fall hazards before working from heights. Tips - Fall Protection Inspect your PPE before each shift. Make sure your lanyard is not going to allow you to fall to the next level Seat Belts Tips - Seat Belts Perform inspections of the seat belt and mounting hardware before you operate the machine. Any damaged or worn parts should be replaced. Check Install By Date when replacing a seat belt and do not install a seat belt with an expired date. A seat belt should be worn at all times while operating the machine. When operating, always be sure you wear your seat belt. Seat belts, when used properly, hold the operator in the seat and help contain him or her inside the rollover protection structure (ROPS) in the event of a collision or tip-over. The seat assembly, which includes the seat belt and mounting hardware, should be inspected regularly. Inspection is recommended during the pre-shift walk around and as instructed in the manufacturer s operation & maintenance manual. Include the following items when inspecting the seat belt: Inspect the seat belt mounting hardware for wear or damage. Replace any mounting hardware that is worn or damaged. Make sure the mounting bolts are tight. Inspect the buckle for wear or for damage. If the buckle is worn or damaged, replace the seat belt. Inspect the seat belt for webbing that is worn or frayed. Replace the seat belt if it is worn or frayed. Inspect the label for date of installation and replace after three years service life. Consult your Cat dealer for the replacement of the seat belt and the mounting hardware.

4 8 Tip - Rigging Equipment Always inspect the rigging equipment before use. Make everyone on the jobsite aware of the work being performed. 8. Training Practice makes perfect! New employees should be properly trained before starting work on a jobsite. An employee who is not properly trained is a hazard to everyone on the site. Employees must review the manufacturer s operation & maintenance manual to make sure they understand the basics before operating heavy equipment. Always do a job site analysis before beginning work and communicate the potential hazards to everyone on or around the jobsite. To create a safe work zone, it is important all employees understand the common communication practices used on the jobsite. Train employees on jobsite communication including the following best practices: Keep track of others in the work zone and make sure they wear their PPE. Know what operations are happening and the hazards around you. 9. Rigging Equipment 9 10 Construction sites use many different types of rigging equipment which could include chains, wire rope, chokers, chain slings, wire or nylon slings, barge rope, etc. Each piece of rigging equipment needs to be thoroughly inspected before each use. Use the right piece of rigging equipment for the job and be sure to read and understand the rated capacity for each piece. Never exceed the rated capacity and always follow manufacturer s specifications. Make sure the hooks are not bent and the latches are working properly. Be certain that the load is securely held and others on the jobsite are aware of the job function you are performing. If you are lifting materials to high places, make sure you rope off the area or use barricades so no one walks under the lifted load. 10. Ladders and Electrical Cords Electrical cords, missing grounding plugs and ladders that are bent or broken are potential safety hazards on jobsites. Those items are dangerous and unsafe to use. Never use broken electrical cords or ladders for any reason, and remove them from service so they cannot be used by anyone else. Take care of the tools you use and keep them in safe working condition for everyone on the jobsite. If you see a tool that is unsafe for use or broken, take action by removing it from service and notifying your foreman.

5 The equipment training and safety teams at Caterpillar have spent decades working with customers around the world, across a wide spectrum of equipment applications and jobsite conditions. The key lesson learned is, when it comes to jobsite safety, no amount of equipment technology or advanced machine design can replace caution and good safety practices. The primary contributors to safe jobsites are awareness, proper training and attention to detail on the part of business owners and their employees. Safety must be a priority and an ongoing part of your company culture. We hope this booklet is helpful as you strive to profitably grow your business. We also invite you to view and utilize additional safety training resources by visiting SAFETY.CAT.COM. This pamphlet is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of all hazards related to Cat products or to your specific application and does not supersede any state, federal or local statutes or regulations. More complete information regarding Cat products is provided in the Operation & Maintenance Manual (OMM) for specific models. Caterpillar recommends you and your employees read and understand the OMM before operating or working on any machine. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, Caterpillar Yellow and the POWER EDGE trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. AEXQ Caterpillar All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA.