Be Alert Around Moving Equipment

When construction equipment is rumbling around a project, you’ve got to watch your step. If both
construction workers and equipment operators keep their eyes open, no one’s going to get hurt. Here
are some tips to help you maintain a healthy respect for cranes, dozers, excavators and trucks:

• Never take for granted that equipment operators see you.

• Never depend upon hearing a horn or other warning signals; it might sometimes be lost in the
general noise around a project.

• Equipment shouldn’t be backed without someone to check the blind spots and give signals;
nevertheless, keep in the clear whenever equipment is traveling backwards, as that’s when most
equipment accidents happen.

• Swinging counterweights often create a dangerous pinch-point. Don’t ever get into a spot where
you could get squeezed in between.

• Never hitch a ride on the running board. It’s easy to fall under moving equipment and could
easily result in a fatality.

• No riding on top of loaded trucks; the load might shift, and you might not have enough over-head
clearance in a tight spot.

• If you’re riding in a transport vehicle to a job or between jobs, keep your arms, legs, and all
parts of your body inside the unit.

• Never walk alongside moving equipment. Keep in the clear in case the unit suddenly turns your
way, slides or the load shifts.

• Stay out from under loads on cranes or hoists. Use established walkways and beware of shortcuts.

• If the boom of a unit ever hits a power line, keep away from the frame of the unit and the load
cables.

• Never lubricate, clean or work on a machine that’s in operation. Stop the machine. If you have to
remove a guard, replace it as soon as the work’s done.
Construction equipment is husky, heavy, and extremely unhealthy to tangle with.