Safety Tips For First-Time Plant Equipment Operators

Plant equipment, be it a digger, dumper, log splitter, or generator, make our jobs easy. However, they can also be extremely dangerous in the absence of proper precautions.

All construction workers come across some kind of plant equipment on a daily basis, and ensuring their safety, as well as that of the workplace, is critical to prevent accidents. That’s why plant & equipment safety is something every builder, contractor, worker, and landscaper needs to be aware of.

What are the Risks of Plant &Equipment

Plant equipment are heavy-duty machinery with a lot of potential dangers, including:

• Collapse

Even a minor oversight in securing or fastening plant equipment can cause it to collapse or tip over, potentially crushing or trapping workers beneath it.

• Entanglement

A worker’s clothing may be caught in the moving parts of a plant or equipment.

• Electrocution

Plant equipment may come into contact with overhead power lines or underground cables. This can significantly increase the risk of electrocution of any worker coming into contact with it.

• Fire 

Ill maintenance of plant equipment or flammable materials nearby can cause fire hazards on the job site.

• Noise

The perils of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss also increase with heavy-duty machinery. Prolonged exposure to plant equipment may affect your hearing.

Safety Protocols for Operating Plant Equipment

As we can see, operating plant equipment can be dangerous. Here are some things you can do:

• Familiarise Yourself 

Being aware of your surroundings is critical to staying safe at a construction site. Take time to familiarise yourself and all workers with the plant and equipment for proper usage.

• Following the Manufacturer’s Instructions 

Ensure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using any plant equipment.

• Using the Correct PPE

All site workers must be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. PPE includes high-visibility clothing, gloves, earplugs, safety glasses, boots, and a hard hat.

• Maintain Safe Distance 

Maintain a safe distance from plant equipment, as well as from overhead power lines and underground cables.

• Report Any Equipment Damage or Issues 

The flawless functioning of plant machinery is equally important to the safety of everyone involved. If the plant equipment requires repairs or part replacement due to damage or dysfunction, the supervisor must be notified so that the necessary steps can be taken.

• Take Precautions While Moving Equipment 

Transporting equipment can result in property damage or injuries to others, which is why you must be cautious when moving heavy machinery around.

What to do in Case of Any Accident Involving Plant & Equipment?

The first thing to do after an incident involving plant equipment is to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Make sure the danger is contained and there’s no further risk of injury. Once everyone is safe, conduct a damage assessment and determine if the machinery needs repair or replacement.

The supervisor should be immediately informed of any mishaps and must act quickly to prevent further harm. Once the dust has settled, an investigation should be launched to identify the root cause of the incident, and an incident report should be created. If extensive damage or injuries have been caused, you may also be required to notify the relevant authorities.

Knowing what caused the accident is the best way to prevent it from happening again – which is why launching an investigation and filing an incident report at the earliest is critical.

Plant & Equipment Safety Training

Training is the best way to ensure everyone’s safety while on the job. There are various training programs & courses where you can enroll your workers to operate plant & equipment safely. Some common types of training include:

• Safety Inductions 

These are mostly mandatory for new workers to familiarise them with safety policies & procedures.

• Operator Training 

Operator training covers the safe usage of all plant & machinery on site. It is critical for every employee who is responsible for operating equipment on a daily basis.

• Maintenance Training 

Maintenance training covers the regular inspection & maintenance of equipment and is mandatory for workers entrusted with the upkeep of machinery.

Apart from these training programs, workers should also know how to wear protective equipment, identify hazards, and what to do in case of an emergency.

There can be various training programs reserved for different groups of workers. It’s important to assess the needs of your project and workers to impart the most suitable type of training.

If the workforce is quite large, consider online training for cost-efficiency. You may also hire a trainer for live sessions, which will give workers the freedom to ask questions and obtain feedback on the spot.

Hire the Most Efficient & Up-to-date Plant Equipment From DCM Hire

Are you looking for safe and high-quality machinery for hire? Look no further.

At DCM Hire, we stock a wide range of machines to make light work for your construction or landscaping project. All our plant equipment is updated with the latest technology and meticulously maintained to provide the highest levels of efficiency. Get in touch with us to learn more about our plant hire services in Dublin.