If you need to use heavy construction equipment for an upcoming residential demolition project, here are some safety tips that you and your team should keep in mind, to minimise the risk of anyone getting hurt during this process.
1. Use the smallest version of the equipment that you require
Cranes, excavators and bulldozers come in a wide variety of sizes. If you'll be using this type of equipment in a busy residential area, it's best to use the smallest available models.
While this may mean that it will take you a little longer to complete the demolition process, it will drastically reduce the chances of nearby pedestrians and residents being injured by your equipment.
There are a couple of reasons why smaller equipment is a safer choice in these circumstances. The first is that the streets in residential areas tend to be relatively narrow; as such, your equipment operators may find it extremely difficult to turn or reverse a very large bulldozer or excavator without accidentally hitting a passing pedestrian or vehicle, simply because the machinery takes up so much space.
A smaller piece of heavy construction equipment will be considerably easier for them to safely manoeuvre on a narrow street.
The second reason is that when a person is operating a very large piece of equipment, it is extremely difficult for them to see those who happen to be walking past the back or side of the equipment. This limited amount of visibility means that there is a strong chance that the operator may knock over somebody passing by the rear of the equipment, or reverse into a passing car.
This is far less likely to happen if operators are driving smaller pieces of equipment which are narrower and lower to the ground.
2. Try to avoid using the equipment early in the morning or late in the evening
If you want to get the demolition process finished as quickly as possible, you might be tempted to start using your equipment quite early in the morning or to continue working late into the evening.
While this would not be a problem in a commercial area, where there are very few people around before or after standard business opening hours, it may be an issue in a residential area.
The reason for this is that residents who are asleep in the morning or are trying to unwind in the evenings may be disturbed by the noise produced by your equipment. This could lead to some of these individuals making formal complaints to the local council about the noise, which could, in turn, lead to your demolition project being put on hold.
As such, it is best to only use your equipment during normal working hours (i.e., from 9 am until about 6 pm). For more information, contact a company like Demoworks.
Share30 July 2018
If you need to hire heavy construction equipment and you do not work in the construction industry, you may be somewhat overwhelmed by the range of different machines which are on offer. When I wanted to hire a piece of heavy construction equipment so I could landscape my property, I didn't have the first idea about which type of machine was the best one for the job. Thankfully, I was able to call my brother-in-law. He works in the construction industry so he was able to give me some great advice. I decided to start this blog for people who don't have access to an expert. Enjoy!