Amy Materson (EQW)Safety WatchHeavy loads: Soil exerts tremendous pressure during cave-insThe accident: Working in the December cold, a utility construction worker was helping install a sewer line in a 25- to 30-foot-deep trench. A steel trench box was in the excavation but was not large enough to reach the bottom of the trench.May 14, 2014Safety WatchDon’t slip up: Fall protection keeps missteps from being fatalThe accident: A 42-year-old ironworker foreman was working on a structural steel beam roof. After a crane lifted a beam into position, the foreman noticed it needed adjusting, and set out to use a hammer to straighten it. The area where he needed to work had been barricaded with wire rope safety lines on all […]May 14, 2014Safety WatchKnow when to park it: Steep slopes, unstable ground can put you in perilous position on a rollerThe accident: A 41-year-old roller operator was working on a road extension when his machine rolled sideways down steep embankment. The man was partially ejected, crushed and killed by the machine as it rolled.May 14, 2014Safety WatchNot so fast: Before you attach a bucket, take a closer look at your quick couplerThe accident: During a water main installation, a crew member entered a newly dug lateral excavation, preparing to install pipe. Using a quick coupler, an excavator operator changed buckets and swung the machine over to the trench to continue digging on the main line. The bucket detached and fell into the excavation, killing the man […]May 14, 2014Safety WatchA safe exit: Make sure you’ve locked out controls before leaving a cab for any reasonThe accident: A man stopped to clear debris from a dozer, getting out of the cab. When the dozer started to move, he tried getting back behind the controls, but slipped off the machine and was crushed beneath it.May 14, 2014Safety WatchAsphalt paver precautions: These wide machines require the crew’s attentionThe accident: One crew member started to move an asphalt paving machine, and struck another laborer, who became trapped under the machine. The paver operator left the site before emergency personnel pronounced the laborer dead.May 14, 2014Safety WatchStrap yourself in: Once in the cab, truck safety begins with a seat beltThe accident: Operating a truck, an operator lost control as he backed toward a steep embankment to dump a load of dirt. The truck began sliding backwards and did at least one complete rotation before coming to a stop. The operator, who was not wearing a seat belt, sustained head and torso injuries and was […]May 14, 2014Safety WatchHazards of the road: Working is a two-pronged safety proposition; both you and the drivers need to be on high alertThe accident: A worker was cutting concrete along the white center line of a four-lane highway. Orange reflective barrels closed the left lane to traffic, which was routed to a single lane.May 14, 2014Safety WatchJust 14 ounces: That’s how much the average safety hard hat weighsThe near accident: A New York State Department of Transportation worker started sand blasting a bridge in preparation for painting. Although it’s a departmental rule that hard hats must be worn, the job circumstances seemed safe. He wasn’t under traffic, nor was he under an overhead hazard. But several feet away from the worker, a […]May 14, 2014Safety WatchSteer clear: Be alert, aware and where you’re supposed to beThe accident: A laborer was tasked with moving mortar from the mixer to the jobsite’s staging area. The mortar was located under a tarp-covered area. Exiting the tarp area backwards and in a crouched position, the worker did not see a skid steer operating nearby.May 14, 2014Previous PagePage 20 of 55Next PageTop StoriesVintage EquipmentPOV Tour: The Most Epic Collection of Vintage Construction EquipmentStep inside a 38,000-square-foot time capsule of earthmoving history, packed with 100 meticulously restored vintage machines — including early Cat, Holt and Best tractors.TractorsKubota Revamps BX90 Subcompact Tractor Line With More Power and CapabilityGraders/ScrapersK-Tec Reveals 1232 Scraper with 32-Yard Capacity for Articulated HaulersMarket PulseQuick Data: Top-Selling New and Used Compact Utility LoadersMini ExcavatorsCat’s New 2.4- and 2.6-Ton Mini Excavators Pack More Lift
