How can you maintain safety protocols while working with heavy equipment?

There are a number of standard procedures followed to reduce the occurrence of risks, including: Providing workers with the necessary instructions to carry out the work in correct and safe ways. Imposing strict control measures on workers while carrying out work. Providing all necessary equipment and means of safety and protection for all workers.

En Colombia se utilizan los analisis de trabajo seguro como medida de seguridad para hacer una evaluación de riesgos antes de iniciar una actividad con equipos pesados, es importante conocer el entorno, el equipo y el detalle de la actividad a realizar con el objetivo de ser completamente acertado en la evaluación de los riesgos.

Maintaining safety protocols with heavy equipment involves thorough training, regular equipment inspections, and adherence to manufacturer guidelines. Enforce the use of personal protective equipment, establish clear communication, and implement traffic control measures. Define operational areas, enforce safe speeds, and develop emergency response plans. Prioritize regular maintenance, hold operators accountable, and provide ongoing safety training for continuous improvement.

Ensure that you are properly trained to operate and work on the specific heavy equipment. Understand its functions, controls, and safety features. Perform regular maintenance on the equipment to keep it in good working condition. Replace worn-out parts promptly.

Get the Technical Sheet and other sources of information of the OOG cargo subject to transportation. Review in details every aspect as: weight, overall dimensions, center of gravity, etc. Evaluate the several risks that you could face along the way to destination. Trace the best plan-route that brings the less obstacles to transport the cargo.

Adicional a las instrucciones de mantenimiento y operación de equipo pesado, es importante definir los procedimientos a seguir en cada de las actividades de forma clara, de esta forma todos los que van a interactuar en la actividad tendran claro el alcance de su participación y las medidas de seguridad a tomar.

Follow all manufacturer guidelines and operating instructions for the particular heavy equipment being operated. Before using any equipment, be sure it has been properly maintained, examined, and is in good working order. To avoid faults or accidents, follow the required startup and shutdown procedures. Use the personal protection equipment (PPE) that is advised for the task and equipment.

Form a team of experts to start the task. Meet with them several times before the process starts. Once the responsabilities and procedures are stablished, provide them with all the tools and protocols of communication. This is a key to success in the task

La comunicación es sin duda un factor clave, es importante tener total claridad sobre el alcance de la actividad, el objetivo de la misma, asi como los planes de contingencia. Hay que revisar con el equipo de trabajo que la información haya sido capatada totalmente, para esto es importante realizar preguntas uno a uno para confirmar que no hay dudas o vacios que puedan generar procedimientos inseguros.

Maintain clear communication with other workers, especially those operating or working in the vicinity of heavy equipment. Establish and use standardized signals or communication protocols to coordinate movements and actions. Make use of radios or other communication devices when working in larger areas or when visibility is limited. Conduct regular safety meetings to discuss potential hazards, safety procedures, and emergency protocols.

Understanding and respecting limits is more valuable than you think! Consider this: while operating heavy equipment always consider your surroundings. Often times many might enjoy the spectacle and find themselves drawn in dangerously close. You should always have a contingency plan for when disaster strikes. However, it is worth taking the extra time to elaborate on your boundaries. Deterring onlookers and enforcing boundaries just may determine the outcome of your work site.

If it is the first time for you to manage a cargo of such condition, don't dismiss the assistance of someone that has done this before. Read of what is written about incidents during the logistics of such kind of cargoes in the past. The more information you have, the more secure the operation will be

Transportation Safety Basics: Trained and Qualified operators- having a license is not enough, internal or 3rd party prequalification process should be applied. Heavy Equipment-Prequalification bid process must undergo scrutiny added to this is the routine preventive maintenance and insurance. Dedicated support personnel- flagman, banksman, HSE Inspector, Maintenance crew, dispatcher, Transp Coordinator as a minimum. Journey Management Plan- a constant and dynamic route plan should be in place. This includes weather update, traffic situation and future plans on accessibility Engineering technology- GPS, speed limiter, dash cam for both operator and road. Having a constant monitoring of both is deterrent to operator misbehaviour and records

1. Knowing the visitors in the heavy equipment operation area 2. For all facility user, arranging both visual and booklet safety measures and consequences of violation 3. Recording each incident and making sure the entrants are aware of the risk of moving within equipment operating areas. These are very few of a large to do list.