Back Hoe Safety We need to Cover

a few items

On top of reading the manual have you review the signs and

pictograms on the machine

Do you really know the parts and what they do?

Do you really know the parts and what they do?

Safety Actions for All Locations

Emphasize pre-use inspections to

confirm proper

installation and condition of equipment

Re-emphasize in training the need to properly

engage and secure attachments and safety devices

Abide by manufacturer’s warning

labels and Instructions for safe operation of

equipment

Before you turn the key

Think of where you will be working in and around

Yes it does happen

Causes of Injuries with Backhoes • Overturns caused by turning uphill on a steep slope. Turning too fast on

a downhill slope may also cause an overturn. • Loaders may overturn if the bucket is raised too high when loaded

especially on uneven ground and in turns. The higher the bucket is raised, the more unstable that the tractor is.

• Poor maintenance and work around machines. Hazards include leaving shields off or wearing loosely secured clothing while working around turning PTO shafts.

• Hitting an object such as a ditch, stump, or hole while moving can cause an overturn or cause the operator or an extra rider to fall off and be runover.

• Starting the tractor in gear. If a person is either behind or in front of the tractor wheels they could be run over before they can get out of the way should the tractor move after started.

• Falls caused by slipping on the platform or steps while mounting or dismounting or by falling out of the bucket as it is being used to transport or lift a another worker.A common accident when using industrial equipment occurs when the loader falls on another person or when a load falls due to inadequate ropes, chains, or cables to lift objects, or inattentive operators.

• Excavating unstable soil, undercutting a bank with a backhoe, or operating too close to a steep bank or excavation can result in an overturn.

• Improper equipment transport. Among the hazards are failure to properly tie down backhoes and loaders to trucks or trailers and failure to have proper lights and slow-moving-vehicle signs. Not observing traffic rules when on public roadways also can cause accidents.

You’re the OPERATORPreventing Injuries from Backhoes and Loaders• Slow down when conditions dictate to do so. Some examples are traveling on

rough ground, going up or down a slope when towing or carrying heavy loads, when entering public roadways, and when turning with a load in the bucket.

• When front-end loaders carry high loads, be aware of overhead obstacles such as power lines.

• Keep the bucket as low as possible to ensure stability and increase your visibility and to become aware of bystanders. Raise the loader only when necessary to dump.

• When excavating with a backhoe, never undercut the area beneath the backhoe stabilizers. If you suspect the soil is unstable, use a platform under the rear wheels and stabilizers to prevent cave-ins.

• Do not allow extra riders PERIOD. • Make sure that the machine is not in gear before starting. Always start from the

driver's seat. Make sure no one is in front of the wheels when starting the machine. Do not bypass safety systems that prevent the newer tractors from starting when in gear.

• Add ballast or rear weight when a heavy load makes this precaution necessary. • When excavating with the backhoe on a hill, swing the backhoe uphill to dump

the load in order to maintain stability. Dumping downhill may cause the machine to tip.

• Always shut off the engine, lower the bucket and backhoe, and apply the parking brake before dismounting the machine.

• Use extreme caution when back filling. The weight of the fill material added to the weight of the loader could cause the edge of a new excavation site to collapse. Before starting to back fill, walk over the area and test the soil for stability.

• Keep steps and platforms clean and uncluttered of parts, tools and debris. Do not mount or dismount when the machine is moving. Wear proper footwear with good gripping soles.

• Never use a front end loader as a man lift as the hydraulic system may fail or someone can accidentally touch the controls causing the worker to fall. Use proper lift equipment for the

Arms out for safety every time no exception

• “You really should not ever use the backhoe without the stabilizers down,” Blower emphasizes. “You will pick them up to move a machine when repositioning for trenching, but you really need to have the most stable platform you can get for digging and lifting purposes. The only way to stabilize a backhoe is to put those stabilizers down on firm ground.”

• “We would not recommend using the hoe of a backhoe-loader without the stabilizers being down enough to support the weight of the machine,” agrees Worley. “We also recommend the front bucket to be down, lifting the front of the machine for maximum stability. However, for some applications, it is possible to operate with the front bucket up off the ground but not fully raised up in the air.”

• Sometimes the ground conditions are too soft, causing stabilizers to sink in. “In this case, you should use blocks or cribbing so you can get a good footing for the stabilizers,

SAFETY TIPS WHEN

WORKING AROUND

SUSPENDED LOADS

For everyone’s safety, when lifting an object

with a backhoe, remember the following:

• Never guide a suspended load by placing

your hands on it

• Always secure the area where the load will

be moved. Keep people out

• Ensure no one is under the load

• Ensure the load will not pass over anyone

SAFETY TIPS WHEN

WORKING AROUND

SUSPENDED LOADS

For everyone’s safety, when lifting an object

with a backhoe, remember the following:

• Ensure the signal person or riggers are

always in clear view of the operator

• Use proper slings, lifting chains and/or

hardware to support the load

• Always limit the load to the lowest rated

part of the lifting system

SAFETY TIPS WHEN

WORKING AROUND

SUSPENDED LOADS

For everyone’s safety, when lifting an object

with a backhoe, remember the following:

• A suspended load can be moved using a

crane, forklift, hoist or tractor bucket

– However, don’t forget that forklift masts and

forks, hoists or empty buckets are also

considered a suspended load

• It is best to use a “10 foot rule.” This

requires that no one is allowed within 10

feet of the area in which the load would fall

if a failure were to occur

SAFETY TIPS WHEN

WORKING AROUND

SUSPENDED LOADS

For everyone’s safety, when lifting an object

with a backhoe, remember the following:

• Avoid sudden movements or stops that

would cause strain on the support system

• If using mobile equipment to suspend the

load, ensure the parking brake is set to

avoid movement of the machine

• Ensure horns and back-up alarms are

working properly

The backhoe-loader is one of the most popular pieces of construction/oilfield equipment in the world, which should place safe operation as a top priority. Because the person in the operator’s seat is the one responsible for what the machine does, responsibility for safety largely rests on that individual’s shoulders. Ironically, accidents often involve experienced operators. One reason is the overconfidence that comes with years of experience without an incident.

Clearly, operators need to think about every single move they make before they make it. But some loads change the center of gravity and affect machine stability. Slow, steady movement is the safest way to maintain control. If the machine starts to feel unstable, stop everything until you regain control. Always keep the load as close to the ground as possible and don’t raise it until you arrive at the spot where you are going to set it.

Prepare for excavations

Digging a trench or excavation takes proper preparation. Whenever you go to a new jobsite, walk it with someone who is familiar with it,. Ground depressions can be clues to things like old, buried storage tanks or a drain tile that has been caved in. You need to know everything you possibly can about what is down there before you stick that bucket in the ground for the first time.

Always call before you dig to have the local buried utility locator service mark buried utilities. There can be everything down there from telephone and electrical transmission cables, to natural gas and liquid petroleum gas lines.

Remember, the operator is responsible for the safety of everyone in the trench or any other excavation. Make sure you place spoils in the most appropriate location depending on the jobsite and soil conditions.

The operator needs to know how much the load weighs and how much can be safely picked up at a given angle. “Before you lift, check the spec sheet so you know what the machine is capable of lifting — the distances and heights, etc.,” Lowering the engine rpm reduces the flow going through the hydraulics. “The backhoe will move slower,”. “You still have all of the power there because power is pressure.

Estimate the

actual bucket load

in bank measure

for a backhoe

whose heaped

bucket capacity

when The

machine is

excavating sand

and gravel

Bucket Loadbank = heaped volume x bucket fill factor x

load factor