We have seen an increase in the number of incidents where an operator of equipment has struck something on our projects. All of these incidents have been investigated and in every incident the strike was caused because the operator was overconfident in his or her abilities and decided to proceed with backing a piece of equipment without using a spotter or following his or her spotters instructions. So far, we have been lucky and no person has been struck by in these incidents , but we can not count on luck to keep us safe. Many years ago, I was working on a project and a 5K forklift backed up five feet to adjust his forks.....just 5 feet. Someone had walked behind his forklift and he didnt know it and that person was caught under the rear wheel. They had to be air lifted to the hospital and fortunately their life was saved but they had to amputate the left leg above the knee. This person was an experienced person with 18 in the construction industry and the operator was an experienced operator with 9 years of experience. Neither the operator or the person that was struck thought that their lives would be changes so dramatically in just a few seconds that day. But they were. We can never lose our focus when we are on a constuction project and no matter how confident we are in our abilities we need to follow the controls and procedures put into place to prevent these types incidents. For example, E Light requires a spotter whenever equipment is being backed or being operated in tight spaces. E Light also requires that operators immediately freeze everything they are doing if they lose contact or communication with their spotter. E Light also requires that spotters are to keep all personnel away from moving equipment and to stop the equipment immediately if anyone enters the area.
Here are some other tips for preventing struck-by incidents involving equipment:
Personal protective equipment (PPE): Wear the proper PPE, such as safety glasses, goggles, or face shields.
Lock out and tag out: Before repairing, servicing, or clearing a jam, lock out and tag out the machine or vehicle.
Avoid being under equipment: Never put your body between or under powered equipment unless it's de-energized.
Leave yourself an "out": Always stay out of the line of fire and consider the safest place to be when heavy equipment is around.
Report and replace equipment: Immediately report and replace equipment that isn't working properly.
Ensure proper illumination: Never operate equipment if there isn't enough illumination.
Be aware of surroundings: Be alert and stay focused on your tasks.
Inspect equipment: Establish processes to ensure tools and equipment are in safe working condition.
Store equipment properly: Proper storage of equipment can help prevent struck-by incidents.
Alert workers: Alert workers of areas with a greater potential for struck-by accidents to occur.
Limit access: Limit employee access to areas with a greater potential for struck-by accidents to occur.
Remember the key causes of accidents: Convenience, Overconfidence, Ignorance and No- Time. COIN.
Also remember we can overcome these by. Best Practices, Always being Aware, No Short Cuts and Knowledge is Power. BANK.
Let’s all remember: No more COIN, only BANK!!!!
The safety of every employee is our core value, and it is everyone's responsibility to make sure we all go home safety every day.
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