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How to Prevent Injuries When Working With Construction Equipment

Sep. 21 2021 Safety By FMI Equipment

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Heavy equipment is part and parcel of construction work. Big, bulky machines with a lot of moving parts will inevitably fill up your work site and it’s imperative that you and your workers do everything you can to ensure that proper safety protocols are followed at all times. When used incorrectly or improperly maintained, construction equipment can be extremely dangerous.

FMI Equipment in Spokane Valley is your Washington State construction equipment dealer, serving Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, ID. Here are some helpful safety tips you can follow to prevent injuries among your work crew when using construction equipment.

Organize Frequent Trainings

Each employee on your work crew who will operate a given piece of construction equipment needs to be trained in how to use that equipment. Reading the manual and sitting through a presentation is one thing; actually using the equipment is another. An experienced user in the equipment should instruct other workers on its proper usage and monitor them as they go through the process of starting it up to point out any mistakes.

Topics covered in construction equipment training should include:

  • Turning the equipment on and off
  • Using the various feature of the equipment
  • Entering and exiting the cab
  • Attaching and utilizing implements with the equipment

Try to do a refresher course every so often for all of your workers to ensure that everyone still understands how to handle the equipment safely.

Keep Equipment Maintained

Poorly maintained equipment is more liable to break down on the job or malfunction. Either of these occurrences can be extremely dangerous to your workers. To that end, stay on top of construction equipment maintenance tasks and have your employees perform an inspection of the equipment before they use it. If you need some professional assistance with maintaining your construction equipment, contact the FMI Equipment service department.

Purchase Safety Gear

Finally, you need to make sure that your employees are always wearing the correct attire to work on your construction site and use the equipment. Hard hats, goggles, steel-toed boots, heavy work gloves, protective outerwear and orange safety vests are standard safety garments that all of your workers should have and wear each day.

Create a Safe Working Environment

There are a few more steps you can take as a responsible work site manager to ensure the safety of your employees. These steps include:

  • Having a safe place for employees to take a break that is out of the way and shaded.
  • Not having employees work in inclement weather conditions.
  • Ensuring sufficient drinking water for all employees.
  • Maintaining lighting for working in dim or dark conditions.
  • Keeping the work site free of debris and loose materials.
  • Marking any slippery areas or dangerous places so that they’re highly visible.

In search of construction equipment near Spokane WA? Stop by our dealership in Spokane Valley, WA, today to view our current selection of new and used construction equipment for sale. We can even provide you with financing options if you so desire. FMI Equipment proudly serves the metro areas of Spokane, WA, and Coeur d'Alene, ID.