Heavy Equipment: Basic Tips for Bulldozer Safety

Bulldozers are used for cutting and pushing huge amounts of material within seconds. Since these are such huge machines, even a slight mistake or carelessness can cause severe injuries hence, one has to be extremely careful while using such machines.

Mentioned below are some basic tips for bulldozer safety which should be taken care of while operating bulldozers:

• Only qualified, competent and trained workers should be allowed to operate and ride on bulldozers.
• Operators must always use seatbelts when riding or operating the bulldozer.
• Start the engine only when seated on the operator’s seat and when the path is clear of workers, objects and other obstructions.
• Always think about the next action before actually doing it.
• Workers must follow proper lockout, blockout and tagout procedures, especially when a bulldozer is in need of repairs.
• Reduce speed when working in close areas. You can never predict what might jump in the operating path (front or back).
• Use a system of traffic controls when operating the bulldozer on a public thoroughfare or in an area close to vehicle traffic or obstructing it.
• Flaggers must be assigned in areas where warning signs and barricades cannot control traffic flow.
• Keep bulldozers away from overhead power lines.
• Before operations, qualified personnel must test if the manual warning device (horn) of the bulldozer works.
• The bulldozer must also be equipped with an automatic back-up alarm that can be heard through the whole worksite.
• Shut off the engine whenever refuelling.
• The bulldozer must be equipped with rollover protection structures (ROPS).
• Never climb on parts of the machine where hand and foot holds are not provided.
• Be doubly cautious when approaching or operating near trenches or excavations.
• Never use the bulldozer on structures that are taller than the bulldozer itself, unless there is sufficient overhead protection.
• If you’re planning on hauling the dozer, it’s important to use caution when loading it on or off the trailer. This is one of the most likely times for a tipping accident. Work with another team member and use them as a spotter during the process.

According to topmost undercarriage repair shop and services provider, some repairs are obvious and some are not, but one thing is clear: heavy equipment MUST be in top notch shape before being operated on. If the brakes blow out on a tractor or a bulldozer engine becomes faulty without any repair work done on it, there could be some increased danger in operating the machinery. Side note: Keeping up to date with oil changes can help ensure everything is running properly, and it’s always good to do from a financial perspective because it could extend the life of your tools dramatically.

These are just a few ways in which workers can stay safe while operating or being around functioning heavy equipment. Accidents in the workplace are going to happen sometimes, that’s just a fact. However, using these pointers can help ensure that you and your colleagues avoid the most dangerous ones out there that can be a result of operating heavy equipment incorrectly.

About author:

Steven Pinzka is the back born of Bux-Mont Undercarriage (BMU) which is a full undercarriage repair shop which provides new as well as used undercarriage parts. At BMU we guarantee high-quality undercarriage repairs at competitive prices.

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