As with all aspects of construction work, when digging safely it is important to make sure the whole process is as safe as possible for everyone concerned and to do that we must understand the risks that we take on when digging. Risks from equipment are obvious, and on-site safety procedures take care of that aspect of the dig, but there is another area of risk when digging, and that is that we don’t always know what is underneath us in any location.

Today the country is crisscrossed with underground pipelines, most of them are part of our utility systems, and each presents a danger of its own. From electrical power lines and lighting cables to gas and oil pipes, sewers and drain lines, and even petroleum and gas lines in some situations, all present real danger to operators, those on the site, and the general public should they be damaged.

It is not just danger of course, while the immediate issues of cutting a power line for the operator are clear, there is also the problem for possibly thousands of people it can affect, something else to be avoided too. But, without starting digging, the question is, how do you know what you will find once your digging starts?

The good news is that there is a nationwide initiative to combat this, known as “call before you dig”, in fact, it is a legal requirement to call the service before digging. While a national service, each state runs its own version, accessing it involves dialing a state code plus 811, and you can quickly find the state code for your site online. Contractors should call 2 to 10 days before work starts, giving the location and details. Outline the area of the dig in white paint to show the utility company the affected area. The call center will pass the information to the appropriate utility companies, who will mark lines in that area for you.

Markings follow a standard color code as follows:

• Red – Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
• Orange – Telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit
• Yellow – Natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous or flammable material
• Green – Sewers and drain lines
• Blue – Portable (drinkable) water
• Purple – Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
• White – Proposed excavation limits or route

Once the lines have been marked, you must then confirm with the service that the lines have been accurately located. How you confirm does vary little from state to state, so check with your local center for the exact process.

You can call for a remark should the loss of marking be unavoidable during the project, part of a contractor’s legal requirement is to maintain the marks throughout the project’s life, and with the lines carefully marked, the dig can continue safely, avoiding problems and reducing risks.

Modern technology and high training standards mean that safety records are better than ever today, but when cranes are involved, safety should never be taken for granted. As loads have become bigger and sites more complex, the need to create a platform for safety standards and accepted practices that took modern innovation into account was noted by OSHA at the start of this decade. Today, we have a thoroughly modern safety system designed by OSHA that recognizes the risks such large cranes and loads represent and provides the operating practices that best minimize those risks.

Central to those safety standards is training, with operators of cranes requiring certification by an accredited crane operator testing organization for the size of crane they are using. In practice, with relatively few such organizations, this means passing a National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) training program. These are held by accredited teaching facilities, offering complete training courses culminating in NCCCO written and practical exams. Additionally, OSHA has also detailed Rigger/Signalperson training and standards that work in conjunction with their operator processes.

OSHA takes the view that well-trained operators, riggers, and signal staff operate in a safer way when on site in normal circumstances, but are also trained to recognize risks and take steps to avoid them, and are able to maintain a higher safety standard even in difficult situations. They have been proven correct too, and while the changes in regulations in 2010 did cause some concern in the industry, the better performance and safety today have shown the value of those changes over time.

Here at ATS, we offer a comprehensive NCCCO training program that covers every aspect of crane operation and OSHA regulation compliance. We also have a rigger/signalperson program available that covers all aspects of OSHA regulation as well as NCCCO Rigger 1 and 2 programs as well.

All courses include both written and practical training, and offer comprehensive, effective education for any crane operator or rigger/signalperson, providing not just an NCCCO or compliance certification, but the knowledge, skill, and understanding to be safe and productive onsite.

Our training delivers competent, reliable, skilled workers who understand the job, but also know how to carry out their tasks as safely as possible, for themselves, for the site, and for their team. We are proud to offer courses that actively improve safety on site, and our crane and rigger courses do just that by following all OSHA compliance requirements, with well-thought-out programs and testing via the NCCCO.

Safety-conscious personnel delivers a safer work environment. OSHA believes that and we see it for ourselves, better training, improved safety awareness, and fewer accidents. ATS delivers the training and mindset that produces those results.

When you train for a career in construction operating heavy machinery, there is a lot to learn. Not just the skills to control the equipment safely and effectively, to get it to do exactly what you want every time, but the teamwork and first aid safety required on site, the way communications work on the modern construction site, and how to approach the job on a day-to-day basis. Everyone learns these things and looks forward to putting it all into practice on-site on their first construction project.

But there is one thing we teach our students that is incredibly important, and yet it is the one piece of training everyone hopes they will never have to use. That is, of course, the first aid training we provide for our students.  We provide comprehensive and practical training that focuses on giving every student the confidence and knowledge to deal with potential problems they may meet on-site.

While we never like to think of the worst things happening, and great strides have been made with onsite safety over the last few decades, construction still does carry a certain level of risk and accidents do happen. That is why our first aid training is so important, giving you the knowledge to provide the all-important immediate care that a victim may need after suffering an accident. Studies have shown that those first few minutes after an accident before an ambulance can arrive can be crucial to the outcome in severe accidents and having the knowledge, and just important confidence to provide the necessary first aid can be significant.

Of course, most accidents that happen onsite are minor, and being able to treat a minor injury, or recognize something more serious, is again important both to an individual and to the site team and organization running the site.

There is another aspect of our first aid training that helps each of our students that experience it, and that is an increased awareness of the potential issues around them on site. Because first aid training prepares us for the results of accidents, we become more aware of the possibility of accidents, becoming proactive in safety rather than simply reacting if something goes wrong. This provides a safer working environment for everyone. indeed, it has been shown that sites become safer with an increased number of first-aid-trained staff on site.

We value our first aid training for this and many more reasons, and while we are diligent in providing the high-quality, comprehensive training that will make a difference, we also hope that this is the one skill we teach that our students never have to make use of. You can never be too prepared for an accident, and we ensure that our students do not just have the knowledge, but the ability to act on that knowledge when needed, to make a difference when called upon.

Picture the traditional construction worker and their gear, and what do you see? Blue jeans are part of that description for most of us, having been the hard-wearing pants of choice for as long as there has been construction in the country.  But are they still the best solution for something to last the rough treatment your clothes always get? As with almost every aspect of our lives, technology claims to have brought us something better, but is it a reality?

Jeans are the traditional work pants, they have endured for almost the entire existence of construction as the cost-effective, hard-wearing solution, but they have never been without issues. They take a while to dry if they get wet for any reason, even using over trousers in the rain doesn’t always stop it. There are other issues too, but overall the traditional jeans have been the best option available.

Today there are options available from several manufacturers that use the latest lightweight materials and designs to create pants designed specifically for workers in the industry, but do they really improve on the reliable jeans?

There are a number of areas that they do, and while there are many variations, the designs available are mostly an improvement for the modern worker, they have inbuilt knee protection for safety and comfort for instance, so there is no need for extra equipment as would be the case with jeans. That is not all, with water-resistant, tear-proof material, these new options are actually harder to wear those jeans, and also much better onsite, especially in wetter weather. Options with spate linings offer cold weather protection without the need for cumbersome over trousers as well, in many ways the designs and materials really have made all the difference.

Design changes do not stop there, with larger pockets and more accessible pockets, often at the side of the leg for ease of access even if sitting, there has been a lot of thought with these modern options into what industry workers need, and here modern fabrics and construction really has paid dividends too. Where once pockets were small and inaccessible, and a tool belt was often required for anyone who needed to carry a few things around the site, today we have pants with fold-out waist pockets that are in essence built-in tool belts. The strong materials and construction mean that they can hold all the things you need for a day on-site without requiring extra tool belts, bags, protective wear or anything else, all in one package.

It may not seem like much, what pants you wear, but after a long day on-site in damp jeans, a bit of extra comfort can seem very important indeed. That is without taking into account the harder-wearing material, better design, and added comfort and protection.

When you spend most of your day operating heavy equipment, your office is the cab, it’s where you are in control, and you know what is happening. However, without good communication lines, it can be a very isolating place as well. Operators need the ability to concentrate of course, but isolation is not an answer, ensuring in-cab communications are as good as they can be has become very important, for a number of reasons. Here are some things that can be problematic if communications are not maintained correctly.

• Safety – We all hope it never happens to us, but accidents do occur, and no matter how minor they are an investigation will always examine communications leading up to the incident. Good communication systems that are working correctly will always improve safety on site, both for heavy equipment operators and other workers on the site.
• Work Schedules – One of the costliest parts of any project is completion delays, missing deadlines, and failing to meet work schedules. Heavy equipment operators really benefit here from better communications, as it can help individuals and teams work more efficiently. On large projects, even small improvements can add up to big-time savings and can be the difference between meeting and missing a deadline.
• Teamwork – Smooth running of any site relies on teamwork, that operators are where they are supposed to be at the right time. However, given the nature of the industry, few people get to work in the same team often enough to build that relationship, so making sure the team functions properly each time is all about communication. Being able to adapt to a new environment and understanding how each group works is important for operators, and at the core of that is improved communication.
• Reliance on visual signals – Think of all the signals a heavy equipment operator has to take note of during any site operation to ensure the safety of themselves and others on site, there are hand signals, flashing lights, and flags used as guides or alarms, and this can lead to a problem known as alarm fatigue. This is where operators become overwhelmed by too many visual alarms and are unable to process them all. In-cab communications should not replace visual signals, but they complement visual alarms very well and can reduce the chance of an alarm being missed due to alarm fatigue.
• Stress – Operators isolated from the rest of the project in a cab without good communication can become stressed. Two-way communications allow questions to be asked and answered and operators to understand the project better and feel a part of the team instead of separate, helping reduce the stressfulness of the work.

There are many very good reasons to ensure cab communications are working well on any project, heavy equipment operators should always be in communication throughout any project.

Have you ever seen a professional heavy equipment operator dress wearing flip-flops while on the job? Probably not, because that shoe selection would be a huge safety violation. There’s a good reason professionals wear the protective gear you see when driving past a work site, and it’s because workers are safer when appropriately dressed for the job they actually do.

Personal Protective Gear for Heavy Equipment Operators

Those flip-flops are unsafe because they don’t protect the feet. A worksite that has heavy equipment is a work site that requires good work boots, usually with steel toes. These boots, along with good socks, are designed to stay on your feet and keep your mind on the job instead of your toes. Other ways to protect your body might vary depending on the type of industry:

• clothing that will keep you from getting caught in moving machinery parts
• gloves that keep your hands from slipping and also protect
• safety glasses that keep dust and other junk out of your eyes
• ear plugs or ear muffs that keep you from going deaf
• respirators or masks that keep silica or other junk out of your lungs
• hard hats that keep your skull from getting cracked
• reflective safety vests that keep you visible
• sunscreen that keeps you from getting skin cancer
• a water bottle that keeps you hydrated

Dress Appropriately

All this protective gear has horror stories behind it — stories of real heavy equipment operators who were injured or killed because they did not have that one thing to protect them. These sad stories are why ATS instructors are required to have National Credentials with NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research). This non-profit educational foundation has a mission — to foster a productive, safe, and sustainable workforce. Certifications like NCCER verify that the information being taught has research behind the rules. That protective gear might seem like a hassle, but it keeps you dressed for the job you actually do.

Much of the country is seeing subzero cold this month. But along with that cold, we are also seeing an increase in accidents because the cold affects both the equipment and the operator. Heavy equipment safety means understanding the difference a drop in temperature makes.

Effects of Subzero Cold on Heavy Equipment

When metal gets extremely cold, it becomes brittle. It cannot absorb impact and pressure the way it normally would in warmer conditions. This means that the standard range of ductility and flexibility is severely limited. The assorted fluids keeping all the parts moving also change in subzero conditions, becoming thick or even useless.

Extra time must be taken to warm up the machinery before expecting it to perform optimally. Awareness of site conditions is also imperative. For example, the frozen ground may require jackhammers instead of a backhoe. Frost causes slippery surfaces where no danger exists in warmer weather.

Effects of Subzero Cold on Heavy Equipment Operators

People who are cold do not perform at their peak any better than equipment does. Response time slows, muscles and joints are stiff and prone to injury, and it’s easy to be in danger of hypothermia, frostbite, or dehydration. Care must be taken for the operators to be dressed appropriately for the conditions they are working in. Today’s performance wear can keep an operator warm in the active/passive cycles that once caused problems, but it has to be worn along with good socks, boots, gloves, etc.

The heavier clothing worn in subzero cold muffles the hearing and can limit sight — both essential for safety. Thicker gloves change the way an operator sense controls, and big boots can change footing as the operator gets on or off the equipment.

During the classes at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School, safety is discussed frequently — at times it seems repetitive. That repetition is on purpose, to get safety procedures so familiar they become automatic. Professionals practice safe standards and are familiar with the changes subzero conditions can make on those standards.

The logging industry uses a lot of heavy equipment, and loggers love frozen ground because it is stable ground. But according to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the time they have to operate on frozen ground is getting shorter. In fact, the winter logging season has gradually shortened by 2-3 weeks since 1948. Because logging and mud don’t mix, the industry has changed the species it targets and the predictions for harvesting. This is a significant change in an industry that relies on a particular type of heavy equipment operator — one who can be a logger too.

Mud Means Danger

Mud isn’t just messy. For heavy equipment operators, it changes the way the machines move around the site and adds hazards to regular operations. Wheels spin, things get stuck, and everything is slippery. Mud is dangerous when machines are being used. That’s why changing weather affects so many in the heavy equipment field — a January thaw might mean work has to be put on hold until it freezes again.

Soil identification is part of the training in the Heavy Equipment Operator Training Programs at ATS because different types of soils affect the work that can be done. For logging, trees growing in soils that become unstable in wet conditions are not able to be harvested when it’s muddy. Therefore the industry targets trees growing in soil that drains well and isn’t as dangerous in a thaw.

On any site, there are potential dangers with a weather change. Because it’s so important to pay attention to the ground beneath the equipment, every student at ATS learns what to look for in soil conditions.

We hear it from the time we are small: warnings about the possibility of falling when we are in a hurry. When the location is a large piece of heavy equipment, rushing to get on or off always has the potential for an accident. Adding wintry conditions and bulky clothing increases the possibility into a probability.

The Main Cause of Falls From Heavy Equipment

Gravity.

That isn’t a funny comment, that’s the truth. If you think that losing your balance or slipping will not result in going down, you are not thinking clearly. Unless you are working on the space station in zero gravity, you have to keep your mind on what you are doing when climbing up or down a giant machine because the ground is far enough away to hurt when you hit. Add the torque of catching your clothing on a snag or banging into metal while you fall and the results are painful. They also are job- or life-threatening.

Gravity Rules You Can’t Ignore

When you get your heavy equipment operator training at a reputable school like ATS, one of the big themes you hear repeated is safety. The rules regarding heavy equipment safety have been developed through sad experience. See if you can imagine what happens if one of these rules is ignored:

• 3 points of contact at all times when getting on or off 
• pre-trip inspection for loose bolts or icy surfaces
• use the handrails and steps on the equipment; never jump off
• face the equipment when getting on or off
• never get on or off a moving piece of equipment
• keep cabs clean and uncluttered
• wear non-slip boots

Each one of these rules has a story behind it, told by countless operators who learned the hard way that gravity always wins.

It’s Freezing Outside

Brrrrrr…..it’s getting colder! Freezing!! Most heavy equipment operators don’t have the luxury of putting their equipment in a heated location overnight, so when you come to work in the morning, that equipment is really cold. So cold, in fact, that things can change in the way that the machinery works. Here are three things to watch out for:

• frozen pipelines — particularly hydraulics
• metal stress — hairline cracks develop in grader blades or teeth on excavator buckets
• ice — steps and handles can be dangerously slippery

Learn How To Handle Freezing Hazards Before You Start

When you get your training at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School, one of the things covered in the pre-start-up check. This foundational step is essential all year long, but in the winter it’s even more important. Learning how to look for problems like frozen pipelines, metal stress, and ice is one thing — learning how to deal with those problems is even better.

Every class and training session is designed to make students ready to work as professionals in the skilled trades industries. Professionals know how to avoid hazards through proper maintenance and thorough inspections. Heavy equipment works all year long, and in the frozen winter months, there are many heavy equipment operators staying safe because they stay on top of what’s happening overnight.

Knowing what to look for in freezing hazards and what to do when you find it make the difference between a heavy equipment operator with a big problem in their machine and a heavy equipment operator with a big paycheck.