Safety Tip of the Week – Blind Spots in Mobile Equipment

A blind spot is the area around a vehicle or piece of construction equipment that is not visible to the operators, either by direct line-of-sight or indirectly by use of internal and external mirrors.

Pre-job risk assessment – consider these points:

• Consider the suitability of providing backup alarms on all mobile equipment.

• Whenever possible, plan the project to allow for drive-through operations that will limit the need for vehicles to back-up.

• Reduce foot traffic in areas where mobile equipment is to be working.

• Establish designated travel areas, ideally with barricades or other means to set apart from work locations.

Protection:

• High-Visibility Clothing;

• Backup Alarms;

• Protective Barriers;

• Observer;

• Communication; and

• Awareness.

Be Alert…Expect the Unexpected!!