Backhoe safety is important and requires proper training, regular equipment checks, and safe operating practices. Employers should only allow trained operators to use heavy equipment, and workers should wear appropriate safety gear. Notify OSHA if working conditions are unsafe.
Backhoe safety, like safety while operating any other construction equipment, should be the combined effort of a company and its employees to be effective. The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) has policies related to the workplace practice of backhoe safety, along with safe practices for many other types of equipment.
One of the major issues surrounding effective backhoe safety is training. Equipment operators are specially trained to operate heavy equipment and their employers should require annual OSHA safety training. A business that allows untrained workers to operate a backhoe loader or any other heavy machinery without the proper training can be fined. Every business that uses heavy equipment should take the precaution of allowing only trained operators to use their equipment.
Standard backhoe safety practices should be implemented each time the equipment is used. Operators should check the equipment before use to ensure that all lights and signals, tires, hookups and guards are functioning properly and that no part of the equipment is loose or malfunctioning. Backhoe safety also requires that malfunctioning or damaged parts of the equipment be repaired before use.
Backhoe safety during operation should always include a thorough inspection of the working environment and an inspection of all workers and nearby obstacles. Workers on the ground in the vicinity of operating equipment must wear signaling clothing and the appropriate safety equipment. Operating a backhoe at the proper crawl speed when turning or working in slippery conditions is a must. Rollovers are a leading cause of backhoe injuries and deaths. Operators should also be aware of all underground and overhead power and gas lines as part of the backhoe safety regime, as electrocution is another common cause of equipment death.
No employer should require a worker to operate a backhoe loader without successfully completing a backhoe safety training course. If you find yourself working in conditions that require you to operate or work near someone who is operating a backhoe or other heavy equipment without proper training, notify your local OSHA office.
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