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safety management
the equipment should be off when performing such a demo.
For a basic understanding of what should be considered,
visit this website: www.dmp.wa.gov.au/documents/Pamphlets/
MSH_P_WorkingNearLargeMobileEquipment.pdf.
Backing Up
To warn other workers when a vehicle is in reverse, OSHA
requires operational backup alarms or a spotter. According
to the North Carolina Department of Labor, even if a vehicle
is equipped with backup alarms, the best way to prevent vehicles
from backing over employees is to have a spotter. With
so many alarms on jobsites, employees start to ignore them.
An assigned spotter must understand that a spotter’s main responsibility
is to look out for him or herself and everyone in
the area. The spotter should be instructed to never leave the
driver’s sight without notifying the operator to stop and should
establish consistent hand signals with the operator, signaling
from an area where the driver can see the spotter. Operators
should also be instructed to stop the vehicle or equipment if
they lose sight of the spotter. Operators should inspect their
vehicles/equipment regularly to ensure that:
• Backup alarms and horns are working,
• Rear-view mirrors are not broken and are properly adjusted,
• Brakes are working, and
• All glass surrounding the cab is clean and not broken.
As we move into the future, more vehicles and machinery
will be equipped or retrofitted with backup sensors and
rearview wireless cameras. Some excavators are equipped
with swing/motion alarms, a relatively new feature. While not
required by OSHA, they are a good idea and can be retrofitted
to older equipment. Some issues still need to be worked out
and changes are occurring every day. OSHA is currently considering
whether to require such devices. More information
about sensors and cameras can be found by searching the web
for backup alarms, cameras and devices.
A good handout you can use for training employees regarding
this subject is available at: www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/
hazard_alerts/struckby.pdf. Download the NCDOL Hazard
Alert Nine Workers Killed by Vehicles or Moving Equipment.
Materials Handling and Storage
Workers also need to be educated about the risks from materials
that can fall on them or swing into them. Any objects
that might fall to the level below or loads that are lifted, such
as pipes, must be well secured. Buckets of dirt should not be
overflowing. Most important, operators should never swing
loads over workers.
To avoid items rolling or falling into an excavation, workers
should be instructed to store materials, tools and equipment
away from the side of a trench, excavation, manhole or any
other edge where something can fall onto a worker below.
OSHA requires that spoil piles, materials, tools and equipment
be a minimum of 2 ft from the edge of the excavation in
order to help prevent this.
Only trained and competent workers should be assigned
as riggers. They should know and understand how to select
the proper size and type of slings and how to safely rig loads.
Overloading slings and using the wrong type of hitch to safely
secure a load can cause many struck-by accidents. Operators
should also know and understand the concepts of rigging, so
they can supervise the rigger and ensure that loads attached to
their equipment will not detach or slip out of the sling.
Tag lines are made of rope or synthetic webbing attached to
a load to control its sideways movement. Workers should be
instructed to use tag lines to control loads which could swing
out of control. In fact, it is
a good practice to use a tag
line whenever a load is lifted.
Stacks of pipes, lumber
or other objects should be
piled so the materials will
not slide, fall or collapse.
Strapping should be left in
place until it must be removed
to access materials.
When the strapping is removed,
workers should be
wearing safety glasses. The
straps should be cut carefully
and the loose ends
controlled to prevent them
from whipping free and
striking a worker.
Personal protective
equipment is also necessary
to help prevent
struck-by injuries. Hard
hats should always be
Need help training employees
to rig? NUCA’s Rigger Training
DVD, a three- to four-hour
instructor-led course, is
available at the NUCA store at
www.nuca.com.
worn around construction sites to prevent head injuries
from moving equipment or falling objects. Eye protection
is a necessity to prevent objects from striking an employee
in the eye. Work boots or shoes with crush-proof safety
toes should be worn to protect workers’ toes from being
crushed by falling objects.
Conclusion
Struck-by accidents can be prevented, but only if all workers
are aware of the potential hazards and some simple precautions.
It boils down to educating employees. A little training
will reap large benefits. For more information and training
aids visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov and take a look at
the following downloadable video: www.dol.gov/dol/media/
webcast/20111031-osha/struck_by_backover_fnl_eng_web.
htm, which is also available in Spanish.
George Kennedy is NUCA Vice President of Safety.
December 2011 | Utility Contractor 29
National Utility Contractors Association