Heavy Equipment Industry
I. What is Heavy Industry?
Heavy industry refers to an industry that produces large industrial products, which
requires large and heavy machinery and facilities and involves complex production
processes.
Heavy industry refers to businesses that invest heavily in producing massive items,
equipment, and facilities for industrial consumers. It mainly works on large-scale,
long-term projects, which helps to advance infrastructure, encourage cyclical
investment, and create jobs. However, it may result in high entry barriers and limited
transportability.
Heavy industry is dominated by large companies, as it is very capital intensive and
requires significant investment in heavy equipment, massive buildings, large
machine tools, and extensive infrastructure.
As opposed to the light industry – which is less capital intensive and sells products
to consumers – heavy industry sells its products to large purchasers such as
businesses, industries, and governments. It is also usually more cyclical in both
investment and employment.
II. Types of Heavy Equipment
A variety of heavy equipment are used in construction and maintenance.
Heavy equipment can be classified into the following categories based on
the type of operation:
a. excavating equipment
1. An excavator is a power-driven machine mostly used in
earthmoving operations. Heavy equipment typically used for
excavating include the following:
2. Backhoes: Backhoes are used for surface or subsurface
excavation of solids and sludge.
3. Excavators: Excavators are large backhoes. They can be
truck mounted, truck carrier mounted, or self-propelled wheel
mounted.
4. Front-End Loaders: The front end loader is a self-contained
unit mounted on rubber tires or tracks and is one of the most
versatile and capable pieces of equipment used in
excavation work, as well as loading.
b. lifting equipment
i. Cranes are used for raising, shifting and lowering loads by means
of a projecting swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus
supported on an overhead truck.
c. loading and hauling equipment
i. Loaders: Loaders are used to excavate and move soft materials
and load/unload trucks.
ii. Dozer (Bulldozer): Dozers are used for pushing and pulling loads
typically in earthwork operations and demolition work.
iii. Scrapers: Scrapers are used for loading, hauling, dumping, and
spreading loose materials.
iv. Dump Trucks: Dump Trucks are the most common type of hauling
equipment due to their versatility.
v. Wagons: Wagons are earth moving trailers pulled by tractors.
d. compaction equipment
i. Rollers: Rollers are used for compacting road bed materials like
earth, aggregates and bituminous mixtures. There are various
types of rollers. The selection of rollers for a particular job depends
upon the types of material to be compacted.
1. static steel-wheeled rollers
2. vibratory steel-wheeled rollers
3. pneumatic (rubber-tired) rollers
e. grading and finishing equipment
i. Graders are commonly referred to as road graders, or motor
graders. They have a long blade used to create a flat surface
during the grading process. Graders are multi-purpose equipment
used for:
1. finishing
2. shaping
3. bank sloping
4. ditching
5. mixing
6. spreading
7. side casting
8. leveling and crowning
9. site striping operations
10. earth road maintenance
f. paving and surface treatment equipment
i. Graders are commonly referred to as road graders, or motor
graders. They have a long blade used to create a flat surface
during the grading process. Graders are multi-purpose equipment
used for:
1. finishing
2. shaping
3. bank sloping
4. ditching
5. mixing
6. spreading
7. side casting
8. leveling and crowning
9. site striping operations
10. earth road maintenance
III. Examples of Hazardous Machinery
Heavy machinery is responsible for many deaths each year, but it isn’t the
size of the machinery itself that is dangerous to workers, rather a number of other
critical factors.
These factors include a lack of training, improper handling, not equipping
workers with proper safety gear, and failing to place hazard signs near
dangerous areas.
The following is a list of hazardous equipment used within the construction
sector:
o Cranes: Cranes are responsible for the greatest number of deaths within
the construction sector. Surprisingly, the biggest danger isn’t to the
workers tasked with handling the machinery but instances such as an
accidental falling of load and unbalancing of the crane results in injuries to
those nearby.
o Bulldozers:Bulldozers are the strongest and heaviest of all equipment.
People are known to get trapped inside or beneath bulldozers or get
crushed by one that rolls over due to an imbalance.
o Backhoes:Although backhoes aren’t as big as bulldozers or cranes,
they’re especially dangerous because of the digging bucket found on the
back and a massive shovel at the front making it dangerous at both ends.
o Dump trucks:Similar to other entries on the list, dump trucks are huge and
pose a danger to anyone nearby but that’s not the only way they’re known
to cause harm. These trucks raise their back end to unload the content;
since they do so using a hydraulic press, mechanical failure can cause the
back end to come crashing down harming anyone in its way.
o Excavators: Excavators are included in OSHA’s10 most hazardous
construction equipment. A hydraulic malfunction of the overhead utility can
cause the entire machine to topple over.
o Accidents related to heavy equipment can only be reduced by providing
proper training and knowledge to the machine operators as well as those
working nearby. Also, employers should carry out strict disciplinary action
against any breach of security protocol.
IV. HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAZARDS
The use of heavy equipment on a jobsite is vital and necessary to the overall
success of the construction project. However, unauthorized or unwise use of
heavy equipment can result in personal injury, loss of life, or severe loss to
materials needed to complete the project. Today we will discuss some key points
to keep in mind when working around heavy equipment.
a. Poor Repair or Service
Poor repair or service of equipment is a common hazard. Poor repair may
include repairing by an unauthorized person. Such repairs or servicing of
equipment may jeopardize the safety of operators and others due to
mechanical failure of heavy equipment.
Striking People and Collision with Other Equipment
Preventing Powered Haulage Accidents at Surface Mines
Heavy equipment usually operates in close proximity to other heavy
equipment and on-foot workers. The path of the equipment within the work
space constantly changes. The interactions between the heavy equipment
and on-foot workers are not always coordinated.
Caught Between Equipment and Objects
Many incidents have occurred in work areas where on-foot workers are
caught between heavy equipment and other fixed objects or crushed
between the equipment. This happens more often when the turning radius
for the equipment or trucks is not wide enough at the entry and exit points
of the work space within the work zone.
Riders Falling Off Equipment or Buckets
Although not permitted, casual riding of the equipment by workers (other
than the operators) has been the cause of many construction workplace
accidents.
Overturning of Equipment
Overturning of equipment can occur when the load on the equipment is
more than the capacity of the equipment. Overturning also occurs when
one side of the equipment is on unstable or loose ground or on a
depressed area.
Driving at Excessive Speeds
Heavy equipment is not designed for excessive speeds. However, if they
are not loaded, the operators may have a tendency to drive at higher than
normal speeds causing hazards to on-foot workers and others on site.
Unexpected Electrical Shock
Heavy equipment can come in contact with overhead and underground
power lines that cause electrical shock or electrocution.
Failure of Lifting Mechanisms/Operational Failures
Such failures can occur in lifting equipment either due to the mechanical
failure or lack of proper knowledge of the lifting mechanism.
Runaway Machines
Runaway occurs when the wheels are not blocked upon parking or when
operators are not able to control the equipment. Parking along a steep
surface without proper blocks on the downgrade side of wheels will most
likely cause such a hazard.
Overhead Obstructions
Being struck by limbs of trees or other overhead obstructions, and moving
equipment can occur when the operators are unaware of the limbs of trees
or other fixed overhead objects. Another cause of such hazard can be due
to the poor judgment of operators on the horizontal and vertical
clearances.
CONTROLS AND BEST PRACTICES
Key Engineering Controls and Work Practices
To ensure safe operation of heavy equipment, follow these controls and best
work practices:
• All vehicles must have:
o a service brake system, an emergency brake system, and a parking
brake system;
o working headlights, tail lights, and brake lights;
o an audible warning device (horn); and
o an intact windshield with working windshield wipers.
• Ensure all operators have been trained on the equipment they will use.
• Check vehicles at the beginning of each shift to ensure that the parts,
equipment, and accessories are in safe operating condition. Repair or replace any
defective parts or equipment prior to use.
• Do not operate vehicle in reverse with an obstructed rear view unless it
has a reverse signal alarm capable of being heard above ambient noise levels or a
signal observer indicates that it is safe to move.
• Vehicles loaded from the top (e.g., dump trucks) must have cab shields or
canopies to protect the operator while loading.
• Ensure that vehicles used to transport workers have seats, with operable
seat belts firmly secured and adequate for the number of workers to be carried.
• Equipment should have roll-over protection and protection from falling
debris hazards as needed.
• Prior to permitting construction equipment or vehicles onto an access
roadway or grade, verify that the roadway or grade is constructed and maintained to
safely accommodate the equipment and vehicles involved.
• Do not modify the equipment's capacity or safety features without the
manufacturer's written approval.
Where possible, do not allow debris collection work or other operations involving
heavy equipment under overhead lines
