12 JULY 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Avoid These Common Safety Mistakes on the Jobsite Adapted from Information by CONEXPO/CON-AGG You may have heard it before, but take a minute to let it sink in. More workers die in construction than in any other industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 985 workers lost their lives in the construction industry in 2021. Only by understanding how these accidents happen can we address solutions. Safety Mistake #1: Failure to ensure equipment is safe - A study looking at the factors contributing to accidents involving heavy equipment found contributing factors were nonfunctioning seat belts, malfunctioning backup alarms, and poorly maintained equipment. Additionally, many employees are injured or killed when the equipment they are working on is turned on by a coworker or when energy is released from the equipment. Inspect equipment daily and follow lockout, tagout procedures. Equipment inspections are not just about keeping an eye on worn parts or productivity-related issues, they’re also about safety. Some equipment components which should be checked daily are the brakes, couplers, horns, seat belts, mirrors, lights, tires, and steering. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires power sources be deactivated when mobile equipment is being maintained or repaired. Label the equipment with tags on the controls as required by OSHA to prevent accidental use of unsafe equipment. The lack of lockout/tagout equipment-specific procedures is one of the most cited OSHA violations. Safety Mistake #2: Failing to protect workers on foot around heavy equipment - Operators of large heavy equipment simply can’t see people who are on foot in the blind spots of their vehicles. This creates a dangerous situation for people working on the ground nearby including surveyors, spotters, and grade checkers. There are several new technologies to boost visibility, making it safer for employees to work near heavy equipment. Features like 360-degree cameras and backup alarms on the equipment itself. Proximity detection technology sends alerts when an individual or object is within close proximity to another object. Personnel on the ground can be equipped with an electronic tag that emits lights, vibration, and sound when any equipment is too close. Similarly, equipment operators can view the location of the worker from the cab. Safety Mistake #3: Failure to plan ahead to prevent struck-by incidents - Struck-by accidents are a leading cause of death among construction workers. Since 1992, it has been the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry. Actively investigate the jobsite both ahead of when the work will be completed, and again just before beginning work. Look for changes in the environment and inspect the equipment and loads to identify any changes from the plan. Employee training should emphasize staying out from under suspended loads and outside of the swing radius of backhoes and cranes, lowering the bucket before exiting the cab, and following the manufacturer’s instructions for operating couplers. Employers should use zones and barriers to separate workers from heavy equipment. Safety Mistake #4: Failure to adhere to OSHA trenching standards - Excavating contractors need to pay more attention to safety standards for trenches. In 2021, OSHA announced enhanced enforcement initiatives after a rise in trench-related accidents. In one incident in June of last year, two workers suffered fatal injuries in Texas, when an unprotected trench more than 20 feet deep collapsed on them as they worked. Sadly, the trench shields which could have saved their lives, sat unused beside the excavation. Remember to slope it, shore it, shield it. Slope It by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. Shore It by installing aluminum hydraulics or other types of supports to prevent soil movement. Shield It by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Equipment-related accidents are among the deadliest in the construction industry. The vast majority of deadly accidents would be preventable if everyone followed these simple tips for safer work sites. C&G eranhenderson@gmail.com New & Used Tricones PDCs Drag & Claw Bits Drill Collars Bit Tipping Subs & Stabilizers HDD Bits & Reamers DTH Hammer & Bits Custom Fabrication Junk Mills / Fishing Tools Rod Henderson 661-201-6259 Eran Henderson 661-330-0790 Happy 4th of July ~ Celebrate Independence Day in a BIG WAY!
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