According to the Electronic Library of Construction Standards and Safety, more than 100 workers die each year from a mobile heavy equipment such as cranes, loaders, backhoes, tractors or excavators, bulldozers and construction machinery classification of roads and surfaces. There are other risks associated with the operation of heavy machinery.
Risks of falling materials and equipment
This is the leading cause of death among heavy equipment operators. The worker walk can be hit by heavy equipment when changing direction or backtracks. Heavy equipment operator may be trapped between itself when the brakes are not adjusted properly, or it can be run when the computer is left running or not FITTING wedges are used. Another danger is the backhoe bucket, loads of equipment or other moving parts that could crush the worker.
Raynaud’s syndrome
Raynaud’s syndrome is a disease that affects heavy equipment operators working with power tools, hammers. This disease causes discoloration of the fingers and is also known as “white finger disease.” This is caused by vasospasms that decrease blood supply to the hands. Operate this heavy equipment is causing segmental vibrations transmitted through the hands and arms, causing Raynaud’s syndrome.
Spinal disorders
The constant vibration of heavy equipment such as tractors and bulldozers can cause whole body vibration, which is the transmission of mechanical vibration from the computer through a support surface to the body. These vibrations can be high frequency of engines and transmissions, and low frequency of the tires and the ground, and the shock of running into potholes. A long-term exposure to this vibration can cause lower back disorders such as herniated discs, an acceleration of the degenerative changes in the spine, abdominal pain and nausea.
Visual problems
The heavy equipment operators must not only handle the equipment, but also need to be alert to monitor other people, monitor changes in their environment, and be careful with underground utilities, obstacles, overhead power lines and traffic place. These workers also have to deal with poor visibility from the cab and reduced visibility in winter conditions, rainy weather and the sun glow too bright days.
All this affects operators and can lead to mental and eyestrain that can progressively worsen and cause workers make mistakes if they do breaks to rest your eyes and not given the opportunity to recharge your mental batteries.