Helpful Safety Tips for Operating an Excavator
If you’re considering a job in construction, it’s helpful to understand certain pieces of equipment. Heavy machinery can quickly become hazardous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Excavators are common construction tools that require specialized knowledge to use safely. These helpful safety tips for operating an excavator will allow you to avoid dangerous situations.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Excavators can cause a lot of damage if you mishandle them. Operators must be aware of their surroundings to keep themselves, their coworkers, and their environment safe.
If you’re digging trenches with a mini-excavator, make sure to keep your machines and supplies away from the edges. You should also double-check your area for civilians to keep untrained people out of the way. Avoid operating your excavator when you’re not alert, so you don’t miss important safety cues.
Perform Pre- and Post-Project Inspections
Since excavators are complex machines, you’ll need to inspect them often. It’s not enough to check their condition every once in a while; perform inspections before and after completing a project to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
Check for any leaking fluid before you start to operate. Get rid of any debris collecting under your excavator and around your tires. Doing some investigating won’t just improve safety conditions; it will also increase your machine’s life span.
Keep Your Bucket Low
Another safety tip for operating an excavator involves bucket placement. Depending on what you’re doing, you will likely adjust your bucket’s position. However, it’s best to keep an excavator’s bucket low whenever you’re moving around a jobsite.
Buckets can obstruct your view if they’re too high. They can also throw you off balance while navigating rough terrain. Practice good driving habits by keeping your bucket low to increase visibility and keep debris from flying all over the place.
Refresh Your Safety Training
Like most sectors, the construction industry is always growing. Taking safety refreshers will help you equip yourself with the most updated practices to safeguard your own well-being.
It’s easy to get complacent in a job you’re familiar with. After you’ve spent some time in the workforce, take some time to remind yourself about the basics. The amount of information you forget can be surprising, so get in the habit of refreshing yourself early in your career.
These excavator safety tips shouldn’t scare you; in fact, they should make you feel more confident in your job. Practice good safety habits from the start so you can enjoy your career for as long as possible.
