Follow These Bulldozer Safety Tips On A Construction Site

Depending on your profession, you may be responsible for operating a bulldozer on construction sites. While this machinery can help complete a variety of tasks, such as grading land, it also has the potential to cause serious injury or even death.

Above all else, you should never use a bulldozer unless you’re qualified to do so. This is a complex piece of machinery that’s difficult to operate and control.

Here are five bulldozer safety tips to follow:

• Inspect the bulldozer for damage and defects: Before sitting down and starting the engine, inspect the bulldozer inside and out for anything that could cause an accident. If you spot any damage or a defect, report it to your supervisor and use another vehicle for the meantime.
• Alert others: Using a bulldozer in close proximity to others is often necessary. However, if you don’t alert them as to what you’re doing, it increases the risk of an accident.
• Follow the direction of flaggers: If there are flaggers telling you where to go and what to do, pay close attention to what they’re saying. Also, if there are barricades to control traffic, don’t ignore them.
• Watch for overhead power lines: It’s easy to lose track of these, as most of your focus will be on the ground ahead and your surroundings. Make note of any overhead power lines before starting the bulldozer.
• Don’t horse around: There are many examples of horsing around on a bulldozer, such as giving co-workers a ride. It sounds harmless, but this type of behavior can result in an accident.

If you’re injured in a bulldozer accident on a construction site, do the following:

• Check yourself for injuries and administer first aid
• Ask your coworkers for assistance, such as calling 911 to request an ambulance
• Seek medical treatment at a local hospital
• Follow the treatment plan outlined by your medical team

Once you do these things, you’ll better understand if you can return to work. If you require time away from your job, file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. This allows you to receive regular payments until you’re able to work again.

Visit our website for more advice on the steps you can take to receive workers’ compensation benefits in New York.