Key Questions
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is PPE and why is it necessary around heavy equipment?
Personal protective equipment (or PPE) includes anything you can wear to protect yourself from hazards and prevent injuries. This includes equipment to increase your visibility, protect your head, eyes, face, hearing, respiratory system, hands, feet, and body. It's important to wear appropriate PPE around heavy equipment.
What does it mean to maintain three points of contact when mounting or dismounting?
This means that at all times you have either two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in contact with a support.
What is the purpose of a walk-around inspection?
A walk-around inspection should be performed before each shift and it can help identify serious problems or minor problems.
What is the purpose of wearing a seat belt when operating heavy equipment?
Heavy equipment operators should always wear their seat belt. They help keep the operator inside the rollover protection structure in the event of a problem (ROPS).
What is a spotter?
A spotter is a second person who stands outside the machine and has a good view of the machine and its surroundings. The spotter can communicate, using hand signals, with the operator of the machine about how to best proceed.
What is lockout/tagout?
The term lockout/tagout refers to a set of procedures and actions intended to protect employees by shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing a machine or piece of equipment to control hazardous energy release.