As a contractor or home improvement hobbyist, you may be interested in renting construction equipment for your next project. This is a convenient and inexpensive way to get access to the powerful machines you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
But if you’re not careful, these powerful machines can also be dangerous.
How do you use rented construction equipment safely?
Read the Operator Manuals
First, take the time to read the operator manuals provided to you. If you were not provided any operator manuals, you can likely find digital copies of the manuals online. Failing that, you can watch official videos about the safe operation of these pieces of equipment.
These manuals were written with intentionality and were thoroughly reviewed. They’re designed to provide almost anyone with the knowledge and expectations necessary to operate this equipment safely.
By the time you’re done reading the manual, you should have a clear understanding of the purpose of this piece of equipment, as well as how to operate it in a safe and responsible manner.
Inspect the Equipment
Before using any piece of equipment, conduct a brief inspection to ensure everything is in place and operating as you expect. This is something you should do even if you’ve used the equipment recently, just in case anything has changed. If you notice anything off, this is your opportunity to make a correction before it leads to injury or death.
Utilize Safety Features and Equipment
Most pieces of construction equipment come with safety features that you can use to keep yourself safe at all times. It’s also advisable to utilize protective equipment to give yourself even more layers of protection. For example:
· Seatbelts. If there are seat belts on this piece of equipment, you should use them. Even if they don’t feel especially necessary, they could keep you secure in an otherwise dangerous situation.
· Hardhats. Hard hats are a common piece of equipment on construction sites, protecting your head from various types of impact.
· Eye and ear protection. You may also want to wear eye and ear protection, including safety goggles and properly rated earplugs.
Depending on your construction project, you may need additional personal protective equipment (PPE).
Watch Load Limits
Pay careful attention to load limits. Construction equipment is typically huge and powerful, making it easy for people to overestimate their capacity. Every piece of machinery has an innate limit, and you should never cross that limit. You may not know the weight rating of every item in your vicinity, so always operate conservatively to minimize risk.
Take Extra Precautions When Loading and Unloading
You should also take extra precautions when loading or unloading your piece of equipment. Even a small shift in the weight borne by this piece of equipment could lead to devastating results.
Be Mindful of Blind Spots
Almost every piece of construction equipment has some unavoidable blind spots. There are going to be areas in your surroundings that are completely invisible to you as you operate this machinery. This is especially true of things above and below you. You can usually compensate for blind spots by utilizing mirrors – or by staying acutely aware of your surroundings and looking around. It also pays to stay in communication with other people on your construction site.
Never Operate Machinery Under the Influence
Working on a construction project while intoxicated is irresponsible, not only because it puts your life in danger, but because it puts others at risk as well. Even mild levels of intoxication from alcohol or other mentally altering substances can impair your judgment, reduce your reaction time, and cripple your coordination, making you incapable of operating machinery safely. Additionally, it’s a bad idea to operate heavy machinery if you feel especially tired or fatigued. You should be alert, sober, and focused when using this type of equipment.
Don’t Allow Others to Operate Rented Machinery (Without Training and Supervision)
In most rental agreements, you are going to be the person exclusively responsible for maintaining the equipment and returning it in decent shape. Additionally, you should not trust someone to operate heavy machinery if they don’t have the proper skills and training. Because of this, you should generally disallow people from operating your rented machinery unless you train them and closely supervise them.
Practice Preventative Maintenance
In extended rental agreements, it’s important to practice preventative maintenance. Even simple tasks, like changing the oil, can greatly reduce the possibility of future complications. Depending on the nature of your agreement, you may or may not be responsible for this preventative maintenance. Either way, if your machinery remains in good condition, it’s going to be safer to operate.
If you follow these pieces of advice and generally exercise caution when operating rented construction equipment, you shouldn’t have to worry about the risk of injury or death. Stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary risks to protect yourself and others.
