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As the
construction industry has evolved, heavy machinery has become increasingly
prevalent on modern work sites. However, it can also pose a serious danger to
construction workers – about 400 people in America die each year from
heavy equipment accidents. Follow these tips to make sure you are always
staying as safe as possible around heavy machinery.

Get
Trained

As with
all construction site practices, learning to use heavy machinery requires
extensive training. Safely operating heavy machinery requires a thorough understanding
of each piece of equipment. Just like each car has its own quirks, heavy
machinery can greatly vary from machine to machine. Practice makes perfect – work
closely with experienced machinery operators on site to get a good sense of how
the equipment works before trying it yourself.  

Regularly
Inspect Machines

At least
once a day, take the time to visually inspect all machines. The importance of a
pre-operation inspection cannot be overstated – even the smallest issue can
result in a significant problem. Start by taking a lap around the exterior of
the machine and check for anything that looks off, such as low tire pressure, missing
bolts, or problems with the undercarriage. Then, take a look inside of the cab
to make sure everything looks right. From start to finish, a visual inspection
won’t take a lot of time, but it has the potential to save your life.

Keep it
Slow and Steady 

Some days,
construction sites can be very stressful – especially when you’re trying to
meet a deadline. However, the urgency you feel to complete a project should not
be translated to operating machinery. Even if you’re behind on a project, never
skip your daily inspection or speed up the machinery. Rushing can cause errors
that will take longer to correct than if they were done right in the first
place. And worse, they can cause safety problems that may not be able to be
reversed.

Ready to
find your next construction job? You can get access to Building Skills NY
construction job and training opportunities by checking out our Job
Seekers page.