Most heavy equipment operators are going to be working outside when they are working. For many, this is exactly why they love what they do because they love being outdoors. But it also means that there’s a good chance they will be exposed to any or all of the not so healthy outdoor surroundings that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns against:

• physical hazards like extreme hot or cold, lightning, sunburn & skin cancer, excessive noise and vibration damaging ears and body
• biological hazards like diseases from insect bites (ie. Lyme disease ), venomous bites and stings, poisonous plants
• other hazards like chemicals or job site contaminants

Hazards for heavy equipment operators are not a reason to quit. They are a reason to be wise. Every job has hazards, right? The thing is to be aware of the potential and be prepared for the reality.

Be aware of the potential hazards on your particular job site. If you know it’s going to be hot, bring enough appropriate drinks to stay hydrated and healthy. That means you can’t be chugging soft drinks all day, but having water and sports drinks in high heat scenarios would be smart. Wear sunscreen and reapply it on your break, and take the breaks in the shade. Your job site has hazards – it’s up to you to know what they are and what to do about it.

Be prepared for the reality of how your job affects your body. If you are sitting on top of a backhoe in the sun all day long, you will be sunburned and sore by the end of a sunny day. Wear eye and ear protection and adjust your seating so your body isn’t strained as you work. Look for ticks at the end of the day and report any bites. Pay attention to any safety regulations your employer asks you to follow.

Heavy equipment operators do best when they are trained and knowledgeable about the job they will be doing. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School is a good way to get ready for a career that will give you the chance to do your job outside, just where you want to be working.

Heavy equipment safety has become a central issue across the nation. This comes after decades of uncontrolled operation of heavy equipment. Even now, there is little in the way of licensing when it comes to operating heavy equipment. However, employers are required to keep employees up to date when it comes to workplace health and safety issues. In today’s workplace, employers can be fined quite heavily if their workers have not completed some form of recognized safety training. Our heavy equipment training programs include a safety component that is sufficient to allow graduates onto a work site.

If I was to offer one tip to new heavy equipment operators, it would be familiarity – in other words, getting to know your equipment. In many workplaces, the equipment you operate today will be the same equipment you operate tomorrow, next week, and indeed perhaps next year. Getting to know that equipment well will make it a lot easier to detect problems. If you have owned a car for a long time, you know almost immediately when something doesn’t feel quite right. You will also generally spot an external problem quickly, simply because of that familiarity.

The same is true for heavy equipment. If you know your equipment well, a pre-startup inspection will quickly reveal any problems. You will also spot potential problems that you can monitor daily. During operation, you’ll also quickly identify problems – an engine that doesn’t seem to have the normal power; controls that are not responding correctly; or perhaps just a feeling that ‘somethings not quite right’.

Our heavy equipment safety training can teach you how to inspect for problems, and how to report them. It takes constant use and a certain familiarity with your heavy equipment that makes the job easier. A word of caution – don’t let familiarity with you heavy equipment turn into complacency, use to your benefit instead.