Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 108 views

    OPEX Awareness Dangers in Loading and Unloading Heavy Equipment PDF

    Uploaded by

    aymenmoataz
    Loading and unloading heavy construction equipment poses serious safety risks if the equipment falls from the trailer. In 2004 at the Savannah River Site, an excavator fell on a subcontractor during unloading, resulting in a fatality. In 2018 at the same site, a compactor fell off a transport trailer during loading, injuring the operator. Proper safety measures such as using appropriate ramps, spotters, and experienced operators can help prevent such accidents. An activity hazard analysis is required to identify and mitigate risks before loading or unloading equipment.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    OPEX Awareness Dangers in Loading and Unloading Heavy Equipment PDF

    Uploaded by

    aymenmoataz
    108 views2 pages
    Loading and unloading heavy construction equipment poses serious safety risks if the equipment falls from the trailer. In 2004 at the Savannah River Site, an excavator fell on a subcontractor during unloading, resulting in a fatality. In 2018 at the same site, a compactor fell off a transport trailer during loading, injuring the operator. Proper safety measures such as using appropriate ramps, spotters, and experienced operators can help prevent such accidents. An activity hazard analysis is required to identify and mitigate risks before loading or unloading equipment.

    Original Title

    OPEX Awareness Dangers in Loading and Unloading Heavy Equipment.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Loading and unloading heavy construction equipment poses serious safety risks if the equipment falls from the trailer. In 2004 at the Savannah River Site, an excavator fell on a subcontractor during unloading, resulting in a fatality. In 2018 at the same site, a compactor fell off a transport trailer during loading, injuring the operator. Proper safety measures such as using appropriate ramps, spotters, and experienced operators can help prevent such accidents. An activity hazard analysis is required to identify and mitigate risks before loading or unloading equipment.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    108 views2 pages

    OPEX Awareness Dangers in Loading and Unloading Heavy Equipment PDF

    Uploaded by

    aymenmoataz
    Loading and unloading heavy construction equipment poses serious safety risks if the equipment falls from the trailer. In 2004 at the Savannah River Site, an excavator fell on a subcontractor during unloading, resulting in a fatality. In 2018 at the same site, a compactor fell off a transport trailer during loading, injuring the operator. Proper safety measures such as using appropriate ramps, spotters, and experienced operators can help prevent such accidents. An activity hazard analysis is required to identify and mitigate risks before loading or unloading equipment.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    June 2019

    Dangers in Loading and Unloading Heavy Equipment


    The construction season is in full swing
    across the country and throughout the
    Department of Energy (DOE) complex.
    Machinery loading and unloading is one
    hazard that often gets overlooked.
    Typically, construction equipment gets
    delivered to a construction site and then
    is off-loaded. Upon completion of the
    task that the machine was needed for, it
    is then loaded onto a trailer and removed
    from the site.

    However, the activity of loading and


    unloading equipment creates a very
    Figure 1: Scene from Excavator Falling and Causing Fatality in 2004
    serious potential accident should the
    equipment fall from the trailer. These
    types of accidents can result in a fatality or
    serious injury. The types of construction
    equipment that pose a hazard include, but
    are not limited to, excavators, compactors,
    loaders and mobile elevating work platforms.

    In 2004 at the Savannah River Site (SRS), an


    excavator fell on a subcontractor resulting in
    a fatality (Figure 1). The typical weight of
    these machines is over 50,000 pounds. (See
    Reference 1)

    In 2018 at SRS, there was an accident that


    involved a US Department of Agriculture
    Forest Service contractor loading a
    compactor onto a transport trailer and it
    subsequently fell off of the transport trailer
    ramp (Figure 2). The equipment operator
    sustained minor injuries. The weight of this
    machine is approximately 15,000 pounds.
    (See Reference 2) Figure 2: Compactor Fall in 2018
    In 2008, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a Safety and Health Information
    Bulletin regarding the hazard of loading and unloading compactors that states:
    “Loading and unloading roller/compactors onto and off of trailers posed a potential overturn
    hazard. Hazards were caused by skidding on the ramps, using wood blocks or planks as ramps, or
    loading/unloading a machine that was too narrow to span both units of the ramp.”

    Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 851 (Appendix A/Construction Safety) requires an activity
    hazard analysis prior to commencement of work and it must identify foreseeable hazards and planned
    protective measures. Once the hazards and risks involved in the task have been identified, the
    procedures and measures required to eliminate or mitigate them must be identified and implemented.
    Some basic safety measures that should be taken:
    • Have the flatbed truck or trailer parked on level, stable ground and brakes set and motor turned off.
    • Use an appropriate trailer and ramp for the loading/unloading of equipment (i.e. do not use make shift
    ramps).
    • Make sure the trailer and ramp are wide enough for the mobile equipment being loaded.
    • Make sure the trailer ramp is long enough to avoid steep angles when loading/unloading equipment.
    Refer to the manufacturers operating manual for machine specific requirements.
    • The equipment operator should be experienced in operating the equipment being loaded or unloaded
    and should be trained in how to safely load or unload the equipment off trailers.
    • Workers on foot around equipment being loaded/unloaded should be alert to the movement of
    equipment.
    • Have a spotter that is wearing high visibility clothing (e.g. reflective clothing) to assist the operator in
    positioning the equipment while loading/unloading.
    • Consider the use of warning cones/hazard tape or flagging personnel when equipment is being
    loaded/unloaded from a transport vehicle to alert all those in or near the area.

    References
    1. Type A accident investigation report “Subcontractor Fatality at the Pond B Dam Upgrade Project on July
    26, 2004 at the Savannah River Site” -
    https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/04/f14/Type_A_Investigation_SavannahRiverSite_PondBD
    amUpgradeProject_2004_07_26_0.pdf
    2. ORPS Report # EM-SR--SRNS-MOGEN-2018-0007: “Roller Compactor Rolls Off Transport Trailer Ramp”

    Additional Resources
    1. DOE Level 1 Accident Investigation Report, March 1, 2010: Fatal Bobcat/Backhoe Accident at the White
    Bluffs Substation
    https://www.energy.gov/ehss/downloads/level-i-accident-investigation-march-1-2010-fatal-
    bobcatbackhoe-accident-white-bluffs
    2. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Driver’s Handbook on
    Cargo Securement- Chapter 10: Heavy Vehicles, Equipment, and Machinery
    https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/drivers-handbook-cargo-securement-chapter-
    10-heavy-vehicles-equipment

    You might also like