Make sure you’re mounting and dismounting equipment safely.
Falls are a leading cause of injury and death in the construction industry, with many of these falls occurring while mounting or dismounting equipment or vehicles. Tucker Paving utilizes dump trucks, excavators, graders, pavers, rollers, and many more different types of heavy equipment daily in our Earthworks, paving, underground utilities, and hauling offerings. There’s a lot that can go wrong when mounting or dismounting equipment; falling from even a few feet can cause injury or worse. Our employees’ safety is always our leading priority, so we ensure that safe mounting and dismounting protocols are always followed. See the rules we have developed in our 30 years in the construction industry!
Top Tips for Mounting and Dismounting Equipment
- Become familiar with proper mounting and dismounting procedures every time you use a new piece of machinery.
- Don’t ever jump from a piece of equipment. Jumping from a height of just one foot causes damage to your body; if you repeat it multiple times a day, over time, the damage to the body can be extensive, setting you up for injury and pain. Jumps from more extreme heights can cause injury to bones, tendons, and cartilage.
- Maintain three points of contact when dismounting and mounting, such as holding on with two hands and stepping down with one foot at a time. This creates a triangle between the three points; the smaller the triangle you form with your body, the more stable you are.
- Make sure you are always facing the vehicle when mounting and dismounting.
- Ensure that the surface you are about to step on—for both mounting and dismounting—is even and free of liquid or debris before stepping.
- Never mount or dismount moving equipment.
- Never mount or dismount while holding something in your hands, including tools. It throws your body off-balance and reduces your ability to recover your balance if you do slip. Instead, use a drop rope to raise and lower supplies, tools, and equipment.
- Use the handholds and footholds that are on the equipment.
- Avoid wearing loose or torn clothing that can get caught on equipment when you are mounting or dismounting.
- Wear the proper footwear to prevent slipping hazards.
Safety is always our biggest concern at Tucker Paving. We’ve been in the asphalt and concrete paving industry for three decades, and we’ve never regretted extra safe measures! We can help you with your next project! Call us at (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online.