| Skid
Steer Loaders: Raised lift arms can be deadly! |
A
health and safety message from the WCB
In
recent years there have been several fatal accidents involving
skid steer loaders. Operators have been crushed when they
exited skid steer loaders with the lift arms raised or when
they operated controls from outside the cab. They have also
been run over after leaving the controls with the engine running.
Workers can be:
- Pinned
between the bucket and frame of the machine or between the
lift arms and frame.
- Struck
and crushed by the bucket, bucket arms, or material falling
from the bucket.
- Injured
in rollovers and runovers.
In
a recent accident, a worker removed a loader's lift arm cylinders.
He left the bucket in an elevated position, approximately
1.4 metres (4.5 feet) off the floor. The bucket and arms were
blocked by placing two braces between the front of the loader
and the bucket mounting plate.
The manufacturer's instructions state that when lift cylinders
are removed, the loader bucket and arms must be less than
half a metre (1.5 feet) above the ground and must be placed
on secure blocking. Additional blocks may have to be placed
at the rear of the machine to keep the front wheels from lifting.
When
the worker tried to reinstall the lift arm cylinders five
days later, he found that the lift cylinder pistons needed
to be adjusted in order to refit the arms. He started the
engine, then moved between the raised arms and the frame,
leaning over to activate the foot control that moves the lift
cylinders. Over the five days in the raised position, the
bucket pivot had crept out of position, forcing the two braces
from the secure position. As the worker activated the foot
control, the bucket tilted, dislodging both braces. The now
unrestrained bucket and arms swung down, crushing and killing
the worker.
Safe
work practices
- Follow
the manufacturer's operating and servicing instructions.
- Never
operate the machine from the outside of the cab.
- Always
lower the lift arms before exiting the cab.
- Turn
off the engine and set the parking brake whenever you exit
the loader.
- Elevate
loads no higher than necessary.
- Avoid
working or moving below elevated loads.
- If
you must work beneath an elevated load, securely block it
and do a hazard assessment to ensure the blocking will remain
secure.
Related
"Hazard Alert" Bulletins
Online
Resources
NIOSH alert on preventing injuries and deaths from skid
steer loaders
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/skidalt.html
CCOHS
information bulletin on safe operation of skid steer loaders
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/landscaping/compact_loaders.html
OSHA
bulletin on pinch point hazards on certain models of skid
steer loaders
http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19930806.html
Supporting
regulations:
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