Controls and Best Practices
Key Engineering Controls and Work Practices
To ensure safe operation of heavy equipment, follow these controls and best work practices:
- All vehicles must have:
- a service brake system, an emergency brake system, and a parking brake system;
- working headlights, tail lights, and brake lights;
- an audible warning device (horn); and
- an intact windshield with working windshield wipers.
- Ensure all operators have been trained on the equipment they will use.
- Check vehicles at the beginning of each shift to ensure that the parts, equipment, and accessories are in safe operating condition. Repair or replace any defective parts or equipment prior to use.
Check vehicles at the beginning of each shift to ensure parts, equipment, and accessories are in safe operating condition.
- Do not operate vehicle in reverse with an obstructed rear view unless it has a reverse signal alarm capable of being heard above ambient noise levels or a signal observer indicates that it is safe to move.
- Vehicles loaded from the top (e.g., dump trucks) must have cab shields or canopies to protect the operator while loading.
- Ensure that vehicles used to transport workers have seats, with operable seat belts firmly secured and adequate for the number of workers to be carried.
- Equipment should have roll-over protection and protection from falling debris hazards as needed.
- Prior to permitting construction equipment or vehicles onto an access roadway or grade, verify that the roadway or grade is constructed and maintained to safely accommodate the equipment and vehicles involved.
- Do not modify the equipment's capacity or safety features without the manufacturer's written approval.
- Where possible, do not allow debris collection work or other operations involving heavy equipment under overhead lines.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. To ensure safe operation of heavy equipment which control/best practice should you follow?
You forgot to answer the question!