Machinery and Vehicular Safety

1. Machinery and Vehicular Safety

2. Landscaping Related Activities • Excavating, grading, and site preparation • Transporting stone, sand, and mulch • Mowing and cutting • Loading, transporting, and unloading • Wood chipping and shredding

3. Hazardous Conditions and Unsafe Acts • Not inspecting, operating, and maintaining machinery according to the manufacturer • Operating defective machinery • Not reading and following all warning labels • Untrained or unauthorized operation • Taking unnecessary risks • Not taking proper vehicular traffic precautions • Operating too close to underground and overhead utilities.

4. Potential outcomes • Crushed or struck-by machinery • Caught in moving parts • Amputations • Struck-by flying debris or striking the public with flying debris • Struck-by motor vehicles during loading and unloading activities • Fires, explosions, and electrocution

5. Unsafe Work Practices can be Deadly.

6. WV FACE Fatal Fact • A worker was trimming trees and dumping brush over a steep bank. • He was not wearing his seat belt. • The drop-off had no barricade or stop log. • He accidentally rolled over the bank’s edge. • He was crushed by his tractor.

7. Preventing Machine Hazards • There are thousands of machine-related injuries each year. • Proper training can prevent these injuries. • Workers should know how to operate a piece of machinery and inspect for problem areas before turning on the power.

8. Preoperational Considerations • Have you reviewed the owner's manual? • Are the Warning decals in place? • Are the machine guards properly placed and in good condition? • Are air and hydraulic lines in good condition and not leaking? • Is the setup a proper setup? • Is the work zone free from hazards?

9. Personal Protection • Wear personal protective equipment, such as goggles, safety shoes and leather gloves. • Long hair should be tucked under to avoid getting caught in machinery. • Avoid wearing jewelry.

10. Machine Maintenance Safety • Keep machines repaired, lubricated, and adjusted. • Clearly mark control switches and valves that control machines. • Check machines for emergency stop switches

11. While Operating Machines • Stay away from moving parts. • Turn power off and remove key before working around or performing maintenance on the machine. • Use appropriate lockout and tagout procedures to prevent equipment from being re-energized while work is being performed on or around it.

12. No Riders on Equipment • Most equipment does not have an extra seat, but some workers allow riders. • Any rider for any reason is a safety hazard. • Most importantly a rider could: • Fall from the equipment. • Be run over. • Become entangled in equipment. • Be killed.

13. Wood Chippers and Shredders

14. Hazards of Wood Chippers • Workers feeding materials into self-feeding chippers or shredders can get caught in chipper knives. • A worker’s limb can be shredded. • An unlatched, improperly secured, or damaged hood can be thrown from the chipper or shredder. • Fixtures can easily be thrown if they come into contact with the rotating knives.

15. Selecting the Work Area • Position the chipper or shredder so that workers do not have to stand on slopes when feeding material into the machine. • Keep the area around the chipper or shredder free of tripping hazards. • Put up warning signs to keep the public a safe distance from work area. • Ensure the dislodging chute is positioned to prevent chips from being blown in any direction.

16. Chipper Safety Precautions • Wear a hard hat, sturdy slip-resistant footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves without cuffs, and pants without cuffs. • Keep shirtsleeves buttoned and shirts tucked into pants. • Read the operators manual and complete training on proper use and safety precautions before using it.

17. Chipper Safety Precautions • Do not work alone when using a chipper or shredder. • Test all safety and emergency shut-off devices before operating the chipper or shredder. • Make sure the material to be chipped is free from stones, metal, and other foreign objects.

18. Additional Information • http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/chipper_machine.pdf • OSH Answers: Equipment • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/WoodChipES.pdf • NIOSH FACE Program: California Case Report 00CA01001 | CDC/NIOSH • NIOSH FACE Program: In-house Report 2000-21 | CDC/NIOSH

19. Riding and Walk Behind Mowers

20. Hazards of Mowers • A power lawn mower can result in serious injuries. • The blade travels at 100 to 200 miles per hour. • This landscaper’s life will never be the same.

21. Hazards of Mowers • Objects can be thrown from the mower at very high rates of speed. • Before mowing remove debris from lawn. • Keep all guards and safety shields in place.

22. General Power Mower Safety • Begin by reading the operator’s manual. • Wear protective, close-fitting clothing. • Use hearing protection if indicated by the operator’s manual. • Take mowers out of gear before starting. • Read all warning labels. • Obey the warning labels!

28. Leave Safety Devices Alone! • Never disengage or bypass any safety guard or interlock switch. • This mower now has the ability to amputate and throw objects at deadly speeds.

29. Prevent Dangerous Fires! • Never fill the gasoline tank if the engine is running. • Store gasoline in an approved, properly labeled container. • Never store gasoline or any other material in a food container.

30. Store Fuel Properly! Danger

31. General Power Mower Safety • Disconnect the spark plug before repairing mower. • Turn off motor before removing a foreign object. • Provide routine maintenance. • Warn humans and pets to stay away from operating mowers.

32. Riding Mower Precautions • Turn off the mower before getting off. • When mowing on a slope with a riding mower, you should mow down the slope. • Be aware of power take offs. • Wear a seat belt all of the time when the mower is equipped with ROPS.

33. Make Seatbelts a Habit! • This landscaper isn’t taking any chances. • Using the belt will ensure he remains within the safety zone provided by the roll over protective structure. • Seatbelts should be used 100% of the time.

34. Walk Behind Mower Precautions • Start push mowers from a firm stance with feet in a safe position. • When mowing on a slope with a push mower, you should mow across the slope. • In the event of a fall, push the mower away from the body.

35. This Worker Had a Close Call • Anything with rotating blades can do damage to your body. • Keep all parts of your body away from lawnmower blades.

36. Dress for the Task at Hand • Sturdy shoes are a must; steel-toed work boots are advised. • Long pants and long sleeve shirts protect from flying debris, grass clippings, and sun. • Safety glasses or goggles, especially when mowing near solid objects like gravel driveways. • Hearing protection may be necessary.

37. Wear the right shoes! • A poor choice of foot wear. • Steel toed boots with lugged soles should be worn. • The steel toe will help protect your feet. • The lugged soles will help prevent slipping.

38. Additional Information • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/EquipCutES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/NoRidersES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/PowerLwnES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/RotLwnBrES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/SmallEngES.pdf • OSH Answers: Riding Lawn Mowers • http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/ageng2/MF2708.pdf

39. TRACTORS and ATTACHMENTS

40. Tractor Hazards • A tractor is a useful piece of equipment to landscapers, but misuse can be deadly. • A tractor can overturn often crushing the operator. • Operators can be entangled in PTO shafts and other rotating parts. • People can be struck-by flying objects when using pull behind rotary mower attachments.

41. Preventing Overturns • Safe work practices are necessary. • Most overturns occur to the side. • Select a low gear and match speed to conditions and loads. • If a front-end loader is mounted, keep it as low as possible. • Always remember, If you are uncomfortable on the slope, it’s too steep.

42. Preventing Overturns • Rear overturns pose a threat as well. • It may be possible to back up slopes or drive forward down slopes that are too steep to traverse. • Shift to the lowest gear that will be needed before climbing the slope - don’t change gears on the slope.

43. Preventing Overturns • Look your work area over for ditches, drop-offs and stream banks. • Consider marking or barricading bank edges storage areas, and other frequently traveled work zones.

44. Rollover Protective Structure • A rollover protective structure (ROPS) will offer significant protection. • These roll-bars are designed to withstand the dynamic forces during a rollover. • Using the seat belt is necessary to ensure that you remain within the “zone of protection” provided by the ROPS.

45. Tractor Attachments • Knowing the capabilities of the tractor allows for the use of the right attachment for the job. • The operator’s manual will help determine if the attachment is designed for the job.

46. Additional Information • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/SafTrcSPES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/SafStartES.pdf • http://www.cete.org/Trainer/RollROPSES.pdf • OSH Answers: Tractors • NIOSH FACE Program: Colorado Case Report 95CO094 | CDC/NIOSH • http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/ageng2/MF2708.pdf

47. Heavy Equipment

48. Heavy Equipment Dangers • Run-over or struck-by equipment • Caught between solid objects and moving equipment • Caught between moving parts or elevated components and the ground • Falling from machines or overturning equipment • Contacting overhead or underground utilities • Amputation due to cutting action • Entanglement in moving parts • Struck-by flying debris and rocks • Leading to injury or death

49. Causes of Equipment Accidents • Improper set-up and/or use of equipment • Not following manufacturers instructions and warning labels • Defective equipment • Unsafe work practices

50. Dump Body Accident • Driver freeing stuck cable without strong positive means of dump body support. • Cable is freed • Dump body drops • Driver is crushed • This driver died !