Heavy machinery can be extremely dangerous, but it’s also an important tool to have at your disposal. If you handle heavy machinery, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to help keep yourself safe and maintain the health of your equipment. Heed these helpful tips for anyone who operates heavy machinery.
Replace The Fuel Filter Recently
A clogged fuel filter is a serious business for anyone who operates heavy machinery because it can mean that your equipment won’t start at all. A buildup of dirt and rust in the fuel tank or filters puts extra stress on your engine, which can result in motor failure, especially in machines like excavators; learning the instructions for changing the fuel filter on a 35G excavator is essential. You should replace your fuel filter about every 200 hours of work done by the machine to keep it in optimal operating condition.
Keep The Lights Clean
One thing that people often neglect when they clean their machines is the lights. Dirt and grime left on headlights reduce visibility during the day but leaving them uncleaned overnight makes you almost blind when you drive in low-visibility conditions. If possible, try to have someone to ride with you for another set of eyes on the road to tell you when your lights need cleaning.
Don’t Drive When You’re Tired
Your judgment is impaired by fatigue, which makes it easy to make mistakes while operating heavy machinery. Not only can this result in damage to machines and injury or death of others, but more importantly it’s extremely irresponsible. Be sure to get some sleep before taking any long trips; you’ll be able to focus better on the road and drive more carefully if you get enough rest beforehand.
Look Out For The Other Drivers Around You
Just like car drivers, other people operating heavy machinery are largely responsible for their own safety- however, there’s still a lot that you can do in order to keep everyone else in your area safe too! Avoiding passing on blind bends and staying in the center of your lane are great ways to make sure that everyone can see you when you’re operating heavy machinery. People who operate heavy machinery near others should also keep a good distance from other vehicles, especially if they’re going slowly or in reverse.
Also, it goes without saying that if another vehicle is in use around the area where you’re working, there should be a designated area for them to work in. Never enter their space unless they’ve given clear instructions to do so- even if the plan says otherwise!
Don’t Drive Unless You Know What You’re Doing
The best way to avoid accidents while operating heavy machinery is to know how it works before you start. If you aren’t 100% positive that you know what does what, stay away from the machine until after training! It’s much better to turn down an opportunity than permanently damage a machine because you were too eager to get started.
Use Safety Gear
It’s true that safety gear can be annoying, especially hats and glasses with side shields- but they’re there for a reason. Keeping your head safe from falling objects is the most important thing you need to do while operating heavy machinery. You should also have ear protection so that loud equipment won’t cause hearing damage over time. Finally, using safety gear like elbow guards keeps you safe from injuries caused by moving parts of the machine.
Avoid Distractions
The best way to avoid accidents when you operate heavy machinery is to keep distractions low- this means no listening to music or taking phone calls on your cell phone! It might sound stupid, but it makes a huge difference in how likely you are to make mistakes. If for some reason you absolutely must have your phone on while operating heavy machinery, put it on ‘do not disturb’ before getting started so that incoming calls won’t bother you.
Always Keep The Exhaust Facing Away From You
While it’s obvious that you should keep the exhaust facing away from bystanders, many people don’t realize that it matters whether or not you face the exhaust toward yourself. Keeping your machine upright at all costs is important- try to avoid digging holes if at all possible! If this isn’t an option, put on your mask and turn around so that the exhaust faces behind you instead of blowing into your face. This won’t result in as much direct damage to your lungs, but will still be enough to affect performance after prolonged exposure.
Don’t Work In Bad Conditions
Not only do bad conditions mean that you won’t be able to see what you’re doing properly, but they also increase your risk of making mistakes and injuring yourself. If there’s rain or snow on the ground where you operate heavy machinery, switch places with someone who’s working indoors, so they don’t have to do the extra work. Also, make sure that the weather is nice and sunny before you start any work- otherwise, your surroundings might be too dark to see properly.
Make Sure You Have A Plan
The best way to avoid accidents when you operate heavy machinery is to keep a plan and know how everything works. This includes using charts for exact measurements, following step-by-step plans as closely as possible, and having an emergency backup plan in case something goes wrong. Operating heavy machinery without a plan or preparation will almost always end in disaster- it’s not worth taking such a big risk!
Stay In Control
One of the worst things that could happen while operating heavy machinery is a wreck- luckily, you can avoid this by remembering to stay in control at all times! The moment your machine loses contact with the ground, it becomes very difficult to keep track of where it’s going, and you risk driving it into other people or objects nearby. If at any time you feel like your machine might be out of control, get away from other people, so they don’t get hurt if something does happen.
The best way to avoid accidents when you operate heavy machinery at a construction site is to keep distractions low, know the machine and stay in control at all times! Only take on a job if you feel 100% confident that you can do it safely- don’t be afraid to turn down an opportunity if there’s any sign of risk. Change your oil, always wear safety gear, avoid distractions and stay in control. These tips will help you limit the risk of having an accident while operating heavy machinery.