When you operate heavy equipment, you know that safety is the number one concern. You need to know your equipment and be good at handling it in the best of conditions. However, when winter approaches, this can be considerably more difficult.
Whether you are driving a snow plow or a skid steer loader trailer, knowing how to get around in winter is a must.
1) Wear the correct clothing
The easy starting point is to make sure you are dressed for the job. Even if you have an air-conditioned cabin, wearing a few layers is a good idea. It can get cold quickly when you sit still in a vehicle. Of course, you should always wear your personal protective equipment.
2) Remove ice and move gently
Metal surfaces can become dangerous very quickly if they ice up. Make sure to remove the ice from the handles and steps before using your gear. Also, move slowly when getting in and out, and make sure to keep or keep your hand on a rail.
3) Keep it slow
You should also be careful around the equipment. Just as you should always drive slowly on icy and snow-covered roads, you also want to drive your equipment around at a safe speed. This gives you more time to react and avoid obstacles. This also minimizes the effect of loss of traction.
4) Look before you drive
Avoiding hazards is one of the main elements in using equipment safely in winter. Make sure you pay close attention to where you are going. Snow and ice can hide obstacles that can be dangerous if you hit them. This is especially true if you have installed something at the rear, e.g. B. a trailer on a 3-point trailer coupling of a tractor. Check the path of your entire vehicle before moving.
5) Avoid touching metal surfaces
Try not to touch metal surfaces that may be below freezing. Wear gloves if necessary. Your skin can be damaged simply by touching very cold surfaces. While pictures of tongues stuck to metal rods may be funny, it's not something you want to do to yourself at work.
6) Make sure there is good lighting
See if you want to avoid danger. Proper lighting of a work zone is important all year round. However, in winter, darkness creeps up on you much more often on a normal work day. You don't have to work overtime or a late shift to see the sunset. Make sure you have adequate lighting around and around your heavy equipment.
Get the right equipment for this winter
With the right tools for the job, you can be prepared for anything. Whether you need Hay handling equipment, Snow plows, pallet forks, or anything else you should be ready to use in winter. The six tips above will help you with this.
