Fall Protection Friday: Falls From/Off Heavy Equipment - An Overlooked Hazard

This Weeks Toolbox Talk Attached Below!

Welcome back, let's Build Smart & Build Safe! This week, we've focused on the immense power and unique hazards of heavy equipment. Today, on Fall Protection Friday, we're zeroing in on a critical, yet often overlooked, danger: falls from heavy equipment itself.

When we think of heavy equipment, we often picture crushing or struck-by incidents. However, falls from these machines – whether getting on or off, or performing tasks at height on the equipment – account for a significant number of serious injuries and fatalities.

The "Unseen" Fall Hazard:

Falls from heavy equipment can occur from various points:

• Mounting and Dismounting: Slipping on steps or handholds while entering or exiting the cab.

• Working on Top: Falls from engine compartments, hydraulic tanks, or other elevated surfaces during maintenance, fueling, or inspections.

• From Elevated Components: Falling from a raised bucket or attachment if used improperly as a work platform (which should be avoided).

Key Strategies to Prevent Falls From Heavy Equipment:

• Three Points of Contact (Revisited): This is the golden rule for entering and exiting any piece of heavy equipment. Always maintain two hands and one foot, or one hand and two feet, on the machine's steps and grab handles. Never jump off equipment.

• Clean Access Points: Ensure all steps, ladders, and grab handles are kept clean, dry, and free of mud, grease, ice, or debris. Slippery surfaces are a major cause of slips and falls.

• Proper Footwear: Wear appropriate non-slip work boots with good traction.

• PFAS for Elevated Maintenance/Inspection: For maintenance or inspection tasks that require working at height on large equipment (e.g., on top of dozers, large trucks, or excavators), and where guardrails are not feasible, a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) may be required. The anchor point must be secure and rated for the load.

• Clearance and Awareness: Be aware of overhead obstructions and ensure there's enough clear space around the machine for safe mounting, dismounting, and maintenance.

Falls from heavy equipment are entirely preventable with discipline and attention to safe practices. Don't let the sheer size of the machine distract you from the basic principles of fall prevention. Every step, every grab, matters.

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-The Safety Man