Caught In/Between Injuries
What is a caught between accident? In your line of work, that covers a lot of ground. Crushing accidents and injuries occur on a daily basis in the heavy equipment construction business. In addition, slips and falls getting on / off heavy equipment is also a daily hazard.
Ways to Prevent Caught In/Between Injuries
- Be familiar with the equipment to know where the pinch, sheer, wrap and crush points are located, as well as pull-in areas
- Shut down equipment before doing repairs or inspections
- Chock the wheels on equipment that could move or roll
- Never work under equipment supported only by a jack; use a secondary support device
- Use cylinder safety locks on equipment that support hydraulic cylinders to prevent the release of stored energy
- Make sure all guards are in place and properly secured after servicing equipment
- Stand to the side and be clearly visible to the tractor driver when hitching or unhitching equipment
- Leave an escape route to prevent being pinned between two objects
- Take extra caution when working around equipment that uses belts, chains, sprockets or PTO shafts
- Watch for people carrying objects that block their view of you or their destination
- Keep your focus of what you and the people around you are doing
- Eliminate all fooling around in the work area
