Tips for Staying Safe While Using Heavy Lifting Equipment

Lifting operations are fairly common on construction sites. These operations may be carried out manually or with the use of lifting equipment. Manual lifting operations can only be carried out for loads of a certain weight. Heavy lifting equipment must be used to raise and lower loads that are extremely heavy. Any lifting operation, whether manual or mechanical, puts workers at the risk of injury. Construction sites are vulnerable to accidents during lifting operations. This is why it is important to ensure workers’ safety during heavy lifting operations. Some tips to improve safety on a construction site are mentioned below.

Identify Hazards

The first step towards increasing safety at a construction site is identifying what are the potential hazards. There are a number of things on a construction site that could cause someone to trip, fall or get injured. All of these hazards should be accounted for before a heavy lifting operation is commenced. Those who will be on the site during the operation should be given proper warning and informed about the potentials for injury. In this way workers will be able to take the proper precautions to ensure safety (University of California, 5 STEPS FOR STAYING SAFE ON THE JOB, 2009).

Training

To lift heavy loads, construction workers have to make use of complex equipment. Site managers should ensure that all those involved in the heavy lifting process are given proper training. This will help ensure that there are no unnecessary accidents. Inadequate training can cause workers to make fatal mistakes like not securing a load properly or overloading the equipment.

Safety Equipment

All employers are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of workers on a construction site. Thus it is an employer’s responsibility to provide workers with proper health and safety training along with adequate personal protective equipment. Safety equipment includes proper headgear, gloves, footwear, goggles, etc.

Another tip is for businesses to consult with a lifting equipment supplier. An experienced supplier will be able to provide advice on what type of safety equipment is required, what precautions need to be taken and what businesses need to do to ensure safety at the construction site. One such equipment supplier is Bygging Uddemann. Businesses can contact them through their website.

“The above opinions are purely a reflection of the author’s point of view. They do not reflect the position of Bygging Uddemann.”

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