To comply with OSHA regulations and protect workers from being crushed by heavy equipment, employers must take several critical measures:
- Implement comprehensive safety training programs to educate workers on recognizing and preventing crush hazards around heavy machinery, including proper handling, load securing, and protective systems in high-risk areas.
- Install and maintain proper machine safeguards on all heavy equipment to prevent accidents caused by moving parts; operators should be trained to use guards and report missing or damaged safeguards.
- Ensure operators are trained and certified according to OSHA standards and provide adequate supervision and communication protocols, such as confirming visibility between workers and equipment operators.
- Establish safe work zones with clear markings and barriers to keep workers away from dangerous areas like swing radii of cranes and backhoes, and prohibit working under suspended or unbalanced loads.
- Conduct regular inspections of equipment to ensure it is in safe operating condition and comply with manufacturer procedures regarding operation and attachments.
- Provide personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats and high-visibility clothing, and ensure its proper use near heavy equipment.
- Maintain safe roadways and grades for equipment operation to prevent rollovers or tip-overs, and require seatbelt use by equipment operators.
- Utilize proper bracing when shoring trenches and generally avoid unsafe practices such as allowing workers under suspended loads or forbidding the use of heavy equipment outright.
These measures together form OSHA's framework for preventing crush injuries from heavy equipment in construction and other industries, focusing on training, engineering controls, safe work practices, PPE, and equipment maintenance.
