Page 15 - Nov/Dec 2015 Vol. 33 No. 5
P. 15
pieces of debris, trash or large rocks) the ground pose an immediate safety machine, they should let all other
and avoid running over them risk. Each person has a job to do and operators know the intent of the
• Weather conditions different places to go. Many are under dismount.
• Rough terrain, slopes and obstructed stress, working quickly to keep up with Trucks coming on the site:
view production demands. • Scale house operators should
• People on the ground (bystanders) or continually remind truck drivers of
those working around the machines Working safely around equipment safety regulations and regularly work to
• Other vehicles also means staying alert during machine reduce the amount of foot traffic.
The operator: operation and being attentive to changes Communication should continue
• Statistics show that 80 percent of all in machine operation, including through the course of the workday. When
accidents are caused by human errors vibrations, smells or other changes. Using workers are aware of their environment
• Human factors include health, all the senses while operating equipment and in contact with their team, everyone
judgment, skill and experience helps workers behave more safely. can alert each other to potential hazards.
• Human factors are controlled by the By working together, you and your team
individual THINK ABOUT THE JOB can avoid accidents and injuries more
AHEAD OF YOU effectively.
EQUIPMENT-SPECIFIC
SAFETY ISSUES Without proper training and worksite TEST YOUR SAFETY
awareness, the potential for accidents KNOWLEDGE
Working on and around heavy may be great. Fortunately, by taking
equipment can be very productive and simple precautions, workers have the 1. Putting safety first means:
rewarding. Workers should leave their power of prevention. a. Avoiding accidents
jobs every day with a sense of pride b. Checking a box
and accomplishment. Working around Here are some questions to ask when c. Having safety meetings
heavy equipment can also be dangerous. creating a safety plan.
The interactive and productive mix • What is the application? 2. What factor(s) can cause an
of machine, man and environment • With whom are you working? accident?
can present unique hazards, and • Are there any special circumstances a. The machine
understanding these hazards is critical to b. The conditions
accident prevention. (e.g. changing weather conditions)? c. The operator
• Is an unusual amount of special waste d. All of the above
The harsh environment of a landfill or
transfer station is made unpredictable being tipped? 3. True or False: Safety issues with
by the very nature of the waste being • Do you have the proper tools/ machines are more likely to center
handled, including municipal waste, on improper use than poor design.
industrial waste and process waste. equipment to complete the job? a. True
Seldom in the world of waste do we b. False
find two materials that act the same COMMUNICATION
way. Variation among waste materials 4. Human factors include which of the
can cause issues with the compaction Communication is an important part following:
or moving of waste. Some waste can of landfill and transfer station work. a. Health
be easily compacted while other debris Developing a safe work plan for the b. Judgment
can become airborne, turning it into a jobsite means nothing if not clearly c. Skill
potential hazard. communicated to all workers. Everyone— d. Experience
supervisors, foremen, operators, e. All of the above
Navigating through waste is tough technicians and spotters—should discuss
enough, but this is only one of many the plan at the beginning and end of every 5. Statistics tell us that human factors
operator safety concerns. A typical waste shift, during breaks and machine changes. are the cause of up to:
site consists of people and rapidly cycling Here are some key things to remember to a. 40 percent of all accidents
machines operating in a very tight communicate. b. 60 percent of all accidents
area. At any time, there may be several Where are people working? c. 80 percent of all accidents
different types of machines working in • Workers should tell the next operator d. 90 percent of all accidents
that small area. For example, commercial
truck traffic continuously dumps waste how the equipment is operating if Answers: 1-a, 2-d, 3-a, 4-e, 5-c
throughout the day while tractors, handing off a machine.
compactors or wheel loaders run through • And operators who are taking over a
rapid cycles to make room for more in- machine should make a point of asking
bound waste to process. the previous operator how the machine
has been operating and if there are any
In addition to watching out for other areas of concerns in the work area.
operators of vehicle traffic, equipment During operation of a machine:
operators must be aware of people on • Operator needs to maintain
the ground including spotters, foremen, communication with those around him
truck drivers and bystanders. People on or her.
• Operator should use eye contact, hand
and horn signals and be sure that these
signals are acknowledged.
• Anytime an operator dismounts a
View online at tnpublicworks.com 15
and avoid running over them risk. Each person has a job to do and operators know the intent of the
• Weather conditions different places to go. Many are under dismount.
• Rough terrain, slopes and obstructed stress, working quickly to keep up with Trucks coming on the site:
view production demands. • Scale house operators should
• People on the ground (bystanders) or continually remind truck drivers of
those working around the machines Working safely around equipment safety regulations and regularly work to
• Other vehicles also means staying alert during machine reduce the amount of foot traffic.
The operator: operation and being attentive to changes Communication should continue
• Statistics show that 80 percent of all in machine operation, including through the course of the workday. When
accidents are caused by human errors vibrations, smells or other changes. Using workers are aware of their environment
• Human factors include health, all the senses while operating equipment and in contact with their team, everyone
judgment, skill and experience helps workers behave more safely. can alert each other to potential hazards.
• Human factors are controlled by the By working together, you and your team
individual THINK ABOUT THE JOB can avoid accidents and injuries more
AHEAD OF YOU effectively.
EQUIPMENT-SPECIFIC
SAFETY ISSUES Without proper training and worksite TEST YOUR SAFETY
awareness, the potential for accidents KNOWLEDGE
Working on and around heavy may be great. Fortunately, by taking
equipment can be very productive and simple precautions, workers have the 1. Putting safety first means:
rewarding. Workers should leave their power of prevention. a. Avoiding accidents
jobs every day with a sense of pride b. Checking a box
and accomplishment. Working around Here are some questions to ask when c. Having safety meetings
heavy equipment can also be dangerous. creating a safety plan.
The interactive and productive mix • What is the application? 2. What factor(s) can cause an
of machine, man and environment • With whom are you working? accident?
can present unique hazards, and • Are there any special circumstances a. The machine
understanding these hazards is critical to b. The conditions
accident prevention. (e.g. changing weather conditions)? c. The operator
• Is an unusual amount of special waste d. All of the above
The harsh environment of a landfill or
transfer station is made unpredictable being tipped? 3. True or False: Safety issues with
by the very nature of the waste being • Do you have the proper tools/ machines are more likely to center
handled, including municipal waste, on improper use than poor design.
industrial waste and process waste. equipment to complete the job? a. True
Seldom in the world of waste do we b. False
find two materials that act the same COMMUNICATION
way. Variation among waste materials 4. Human factors include which of the
can cause issues with the compaction Communication is an important part following:
or moving of waste. Some waste can of landfill and transfer station work. a. Health
be easily compacted while other debris Developing a safe work plan for the b. Judgment
can become airborne, turning it into a jobsite means nothing if not clearly c. Skill
potential hazard. communicated to all workers. Everyone— d. Experience
supervisors, foremen, operators, e. All of the above
Navigating through waste is tough technicians and spotters—should discuss
enough, but this is only one of many the plan at the beginning and end of every 5. Statistics tell us that human factors
operator safety concerns. A typical waste shift, during breaks and machine changes. are the cause of up to:
site consists of people and rapidly cycling Here are some key things to remember to a. 40 percent of all accidents
machines operating in a very tight communicate. b. 60 percent of all accidents
area. At any time, there may be several Where are people working? c. 80 percent of all accidents
different types of machines working in • Workers should tell the next operator d. 90 percent of all accidents
that small area. For example, commercial
truck traffic continuously dumps waste how the equipment is operating if Answers: 1-a, 2-d, 3-a, 4-e, 5-c
throughout the day while tractors, handing off a machine.
compactors or wheel loaders run through • And operators who are taking over a
rapid cycles to make room for more in- machine should make a point of asking
bound waste to process. the previous operator how the machine
has been operating and if there are any
In addition to watching out for other areas of concerns in the work area.
operators of vehicle traffic, equipment During operation of a machine:
operators must be aware of people on • Operator needs to maintain
the ground including spotters, foremen, communication with those around him
truck drivers and bystanders. People on or her.
• Operator should use eye contact, hand
and horn signals and be sure that these
signals are acknowledged.
• Anytime an operator dismounts a
View online at tnpublicworks.com 15
