Handling Heavy Equipment: 3 Steps to Avoid Inviting Any Legal Trouble

The use of heavy equipment of any type incurs risks and hazards. Before proceeding to utilize heavy equipment, it is essential to learn the risks involved. This will help avoid any accidents and keep the workers safe. The safety guidelines must be implemented and followed to prevent loss of life or damage to property. This is especially true for operators and other personnel involved in construction operations. Hence, only buy from a market where fully functional heavy machinery is on sale

The importance of safety steps cannot be denied as any irresponsible use could turn out to be fatal or may cause injuries. Apart from making sure your equipment is run by an experienced operator who has the relevant certificate, it is necessary to employ safety protocols so that you are aware of the steps that need to be taken to avoid accidents.

Hazards of using heavy equipment

Many hazards are associated with the use of heavy equipment. Hence, proper training and caution becomes necessary. Some of the hazards that are commonly associated with heavy equipment are discussed below.

Power lines

While using heavy equipment, there is the issue of coming in contact with overhead power lines and other poles around the machinery. Experts advise that in order to remain safe, the heavy equipment needs to stay away from these poles and power lines. The distance should be a minimum of 10 feet so as to avoid any untoward incident.

Keeping machinery at a safe distance will avoid any risk of the heavy equipment hitting the poles or the power lines above. While deciding the distance, find out the voltage in the power lines. The greater the voltage the greater the distance should be maintained.

Leakages

When using heavy equipment leaks of different sorts can happen. Leaks can be dangerous if not promptly addressed. Leaking fluids tend to give rise to the slipping hazard. They may even ignite a fire if proper precaution is not exercised. This may turn out to be a dangerous scenario causing loss to lives and properties.

The best way to address this issue is that whenever leaks happen, the mess needs to be cleared up immediately. Delaying the cleaning process may give rise to hazards. It is important that the source of leaks be identified and resolved so the equipment continues to function at the optimal level.

When buying heavy equipment, always ensure that the machinery is not facing any leakage issues. This will prevent any issues from arising while using the machinery on the construction site. Always buy heavy equipment that is being offered by a credible seller.  

Equipment failure and maintenance

Heavy equipment requires regular maintenance. The vehicles must be inspected regularly, especially before they are to be used on the site. This will prevent any malfunction from occurring whenever the machine has to be used to run the construction operations.

Regular inspections are important as an equipment malfunction may put the lives of the operator and other construction workers at risk if it happens during the machinery’s use. To avoid such incidents from happening, it is imperative that the vehicle be inspected and checked before use. Some of the main causes of such malfunction are mechanical failures and hydraulic issues.

Since heavy equipment is often powered by hydraulic or electrical systems, it is important to maintain them properly. Worn or damaged parts may cause malfunction. Loose or detached parts may cause entanglement and possible fall of metal shards. Such scenarios may result in injuries to construction workers. This may also invite serious legal trouble as a failure to maintain equipment properly is regarded as negligence with legal repercussions.

It is best to check for any possible signs of wear and tear and perform and undertake routine inspections to ensure proper maintenance. This will prevent any possible accidents from happening in the future due to equipment malfunction.

Nowadays most of the heavy equipment comes equipped with construction equipment management software. This provides a specific inspection checklist that can be followed to avoid any ugly incident from happening. In case there is any issue outlined, then the equipment must not be used until the issue has been addressed. This is because it may hurt someone or cause damage to property. This is why you need to buy the right equipment for your construction projects. Always look for heavy machinery for sale that comes equipped with the right tools.

Last word

There is always a risk of accidents happening on the construction site. However, you must do all that is within your power to ensure the chances of injury or death are reduced. Following these safety precautions will help prevent accidents from happening in the future. It will keep legal troubles at bay.