Equipment World Staff (EQW)Safety WatchGravity shifts: Take extra care when using a skid steer on a slopeThe accident: While moving a load of gravel down a hill, a skid steer became unbalanced, prompting the operator to put his leg out to brace himself when the machine surged forward and then died. The operator’s leg became trapped between the machine and the loaded bucket, compressing his leg above the ankle.April 14, 2014Safety WatchWhy gamble? You have a wealth of choices when it comes to protecting your eyesThe accident: A worker who was not wearing protective eye wear was using a crowbar to take a nail out of some formwork when a piece of the nail head came off and lodged in the man’s eye.April 14, 2014Safety WatchTire troubles: Learning to properly work on and around tire assemblies can prevent explosionsThe accident: A mechanic replacing a worn-out brake system on a scraper was attempting to remove the brakes from the hub. Unable to remove them, he used a cutting torch to heat the brake assembly and cut the drum into three sections…April 14, 2014Safety WatchProtect yourself: Using personal protective equipment can save you from a variety of injuriesThe accident: A worker was installing pipe for a newly laid building foundation in a shallow trench while a fellow crew member used a skid steer to backfill with sand. The dirt at the edge of the trench was wet, causing the machine to shift and then tip forward striking the worker’s head.April 14, 2014Safety WatchBlown away: Stay out of a tire’s trajectory path during inflationThe accident: A laborer was inflating a flat tire mounted to a multi-piece rim on a wheel loader. He was seated on a chair about 12 inches from the tire’s sidewall, using an air chuck attached to an air line and a compressor.April 14, 2014Safety WatchKeep your balance: Make sure all portable ladders — whether manufacturer or job-made — are secure and in the right positionThe accident: An employee was climbing a 10-foot ladder to access a landing that was 9 feet above the adjacent floor. The ladder slid down, and the employee fell to the floor, sustaining fatal injuries.April 14, 2014Safety WatchStay in control: The personal fall protection required on boom aerial lifts ensures you don’t take a fallThe accident: A 51-year-old man was transferring a boom lift from one flatbed truck to another. Ignoring a suggestion that he back the two flatbed trucks end to end and drive the lift across from one truck bed to the other…April 14, 2014Safety WatchUnsafe openings: Don’t risk falling when working above groundThe accident: A crew was working in a cement plant that was under construction. A worker climbed on a balcony approximately 50 feet above the ground to retrieve a tank that had been placed on the balcony, and fell through a 48-inch-diameter opening for an air duct installation.April 14, 2014Safety WatchUp in the air: Construction falls are all too common – and all too deadlyThe accident: A construction crew was removing screws from metal sheets on the roof of a building scheduled to be dismantled. A portion of the roof gave way, causing a worker standing on that section to fall through to ground level and hit his head on the concrete floor.April 14, 2014Safety WatchFatal falls: Know when to move – or when not to move – an elevated aerial liftThe accident: A welder was preparing to survey and weld joints at the top of a steel frame that had just been erected. Using a scissor lift platform to access the work area, he extended the lift approximately 12 feet.April 14, 2014Previous PagePage 38 of 591Next PageTop StoriesRoadbuilding equipmentTop Roadbuilding Equipment of 2025: Motor Graders, Rollers, and MoreIt was a big year for roadbuilding equipment announcements. Here are the top picks for 2025 from Equipment World editors.VideosMost Viewed Construction Equipment – Our Top 10 “Closer Look” Videos of 2025Construction EquipmentAntique Caterpillars Rule! – Top 5 Vintage Equipment Stories of 2025Compact ExcavatorsCloser Look: Develon DX35Z-7 Mini Excavator Excels at Digging in Tight SpacesExcavatorsKomatsu's New PC365-11 Hybrid Excavator Boosts Power, Cuts Fuel Use
