Safety practices must be enforced before using heavy machinery--no exceptions! Besides following OSHA guidelines and having a safety guide, you also need to service your construction vehicles and tools. To ensure optimal operating conditions and prevent bodily injury, don’t use any machinery without following an excavator safety checklist.
Pre-Operation Excavator Safety Checklist in Everett
- Inspect the construction zone to be certain you have ample moving space for the excavator. The needed space will differ depending on whether you're operating a conventional or zero swing excavator.
- Confirm the locking pins and safety clip are in place before turning on the excavator.
- Test the boom arm and the breaker and hoe pack. Check for greater-than-normal movement in the arm. Keep your ears open for irregular grinding sounds.
- Inspect the suspension for wear in the rollers, idler wheels, track links, and sprockets.
- Open the engine bay and pull out the dipstick to check the oil. Do this for every four hours of excavator use.