5 Ways You Can Protect Your Body When Working With Massive Equipment
This is a contributed post.
To so many fathers around the world, what they call 'office' isn't a cubicle. It’s usually the cab of a backhoe, it’s the seat of a forklift – it’s the operating position of heavy machinery used in construction, in a warehouse, etc. The physical experience that comes with operating massive equipment is sometimes underestimated, until it's too late.
Being a 'Pro Operator' isn't simply skillful; you also need a plan for physicality of being fit for many years to come. Throwing yourself up into the backhoe is not an easy feat, and since your source of income depends on your working with these big machines, you don't want it to be the reason you can't pick up your toddler or coach your Saturday morning soccer match.
Take care of yourself, don't take unnecessary risks, be sure to wear all PPE gear, and always prepare for the unexpected.
My father had a small accident when I was young. His hand was crushed in a hydraulic lift when the glove got caught. He was lucky he only lost a finger, but it sure put the scare into him, and health and safety became his middle name.
Here are five things you can do to try to protect your body and your future when working around heavy equipment.
Combatting the 'Invisible' Injury
We can think of injuries as abrupt, but in reality, you have a compromised 'Mechanical Longevity', as people mention Whole-Body Vibration (WBV). You always want to protect your legs, spine, and your organs, and being on a vibrating cab for hours upon hours can result in disc protrusion, chronic lower back pain, or digestive difficulties.
If you want to keep your body safe, you can practice the following:
Don't skimp on air-suspension seats. Think about it – you spend SO many hours there, it only makes sense it’s of superb quality and as comfortable as it can be.
Each hour, get out of the cab for two minutes to neutralize your spine and restore blood circulation to your legs.
Situational Awareness
On a busy site in a big city, the situation couldn’t be more chaotic.
At work, distracted operating is your workplace version of distracted driving. The mental fatigue of tracking the ground workers, overhead lines, and blind spots is enormous. Situational awareness should be regarded as a discipline.
While in your seat, keep in mind this rule:
Phone off. No exception. Your mind needs to be 100 percent on your machine and what is happening around it.
This isn't about efficiency alone; it's about getting everyone present on that site, you included, home to their families.
How to Solve Heavy Equipment Accident Issues Early on
Complacency and the 'Quick Fix' mentality are two contributing factors to most heavy equipment accident problems. We've all had these situations present themselves. Working that final ten minutes and rushing off to a school play or dinner date. We skip over a lockout/tagout or jump off a ladder instead of using 3 points of contact.
U.S. construction standards are tough – 'slips and falls' from equipment are among the leading causes of long-term disability, or so statistics say.
When someone says 'true strength', they don't mean powering through safety hazards. No. What you want is discipline. And not any type of discipline. You want the type that enables you to get it right every single time (even when you're exhausted or when you're rushed/under stress).
Sensory Wealth
Fitness and diet are what we talk so much about, but we forget our respiratory and auditory health for machinery operators:
Hearing: High-energy engine noise isn't just annoying; it induces long-lasting cognitive fatigue. Apply good-quality noise-cancelling PPE so you're able to still hear your kids' whispers 20 years from now.
Lungs: Silica dust and diesel exhaust are silent attackers. Be it in the cab or on the ground, maintain your filtration systems.
Your lungs are your engines; keep the filters clean.
The 'Industrial Athlete' Mindset
If you perceive yourself as an Industrial Athlete, your workday shifts. You have to be like the NFL player who needs to do a warmup before the game starts:
Quarterback Dad, starting an 8-hour-long shift of heavy lifting, before stepping into the cab:
Dynamic Stretching: Get great strength from hip flexors and hamstrings, which tighten up after sitting for a long while.
Hydration: A drop in focus can be serious, especially while working with heavy equipment. Your focus should be top-notch, and it should be constant. If you’re dehydrated, your brain works more sluggishly. And that just won’t cut it; not if you’re looking to step up in the safety department.
Conclusion
If ever there was a 'project' you could work on, it'd be your health and wellness. Keeping fit will allow you to do the work you do for a long time, and you can be an active, present father who can provide for his family for decades to come.
Be an active participant in your family's life and find that work-life balance that everyone is talking about.
And if you’re mindful about how you keep your body safe, you’re also leading by example. Your kids copy you all the time. They learn this way.
So, in a way, you’re also making them better by being better.Win-win-win.
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