BEST PRACTICES OF BACKHOE OPERATION DURING CONSTRUCTION OF GAS AND OIL PIPELINES
Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel
PRE‐OPERATION
·
Review the operator manual
for unique operational/equipment requirements.
·
Ensure there is an appropriate Emergency Action
Plan to protect employees
in case of fires, electric storms,
hurricanes, tornadoes. Ensure that your plan is site specific for each job to include
medical and first
aid and is communicated to employees.
·
Ensure there is a Trenching and Excavation Program
to include inspection of excavation, adjacent areas,
and protective systems (when and
how to use) and is communicated to employees.
Ensure that personnel have required
training.
·
Do a JSA (Job Safety Analysis) and communicate with your working
team to ensure that all safety
concerns are discussed
and task responsibilities are defined.
·
Designate a competent person.
Competent person means one who
is capable of identifying existing
and predictable hazards in the
surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary,
hazardous, or dangerous
to employees and who has authorization to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate them.
·
Ensure availability and use of appropriate personal
protective equipment (PPE) for the tasks being performed
as required per company policy
and OSHA regulations.
OPERATION
·
Only qualified personnel shall operate
equipment. A qualified person who by extensive knowledge, skills,
training or by experience has demonstrated
their ability to operate
the equipment.
·
Verify that the One Call has been made and that utilities are marked and depth verified before the commencement of digging activities.
·
Ensure there is a competent person on site whenever
employees are working
in an excavation.
·
Ensure OSHA required separation distances
between backhoe and power lines are maintained; use a
spotter for hard to see separation distances, and for all other
utility installations or tight conditions.
1. For voltages to ground
50kV or less = 10 feet
2. For voltages to ground
over 50kV = 10 feet plus 4 inches
for every 10kV over 50kV.
·
Ensure that bucket
teeth have been barred when digging around
exposed underground utilities. All utilities shall be confirmed
before the use of
mechanical equipment.
·
Mats shall be used on soft ground, wet lands,
and at other times when needed.
·
Verify that sufficient room is available to keep spoil pile at least 2 feet from the edge.
·
Ensure proper communication clearly indicating that all unnecessary personnel are prohibited from entering
the work area.
·
Ensure that hand signals are
given by one person and understood by all personnel
on site.
POST OPERATION
·
Verify equipment is properly
parked, parking brake set, and chock
and block where needed.
Best Practices for Operators
PRE‐OPERATION
·
Read, understand, and follow the operator’s manual. Only qualified personnel shall operate equipment.
·
Wear appropriate PPE as required
by the task being performed
as required by company
policy, and OSHA regulations.
·
When refueling, bond the supply tank with the fuel tank to prevent static discharge
and possible fire.
·
Conduct a walk around inspection checking all fluids and noting any items needing maintenance and repair.
Ensure
all critical repairs
are performed before operation.
·
Under no load perform
a pre‐operation function check to verify proper operation of equipment including
verification of back up alarm.
·
Make sure all
warning labels are legible.
Those not legible must be cleaned or replaced.
·
Ensure that bucket
teeth are barred
if working around
underground utilities. All utilities shall be located
by hand before the use of backhoe.
·
Verify that any attachments that have the quick couplers
are properly connected to prevent accidental disconnect which could cause injury
or death
to personnel.
·
Remove debris
and clutter in the cab that would prevent safe operation.
·
Use 3 points of contact to enter the machine.
·
Get on the
machine only at
locations that have steps and/or handholds. If the machine does not have these, advise your supervisor immediately.
·
Do not use any controls as handholds when entering or exiting the operator compartment.
·
If available the seat belt shall be worn while
operating the piece of equipment.
OPERATION
·
Verify that the One Call has been made and that utilities are marked and depth verified before the commencement of digging activities.
·
No personnel shall be under
the bucket or the backhoe while it is being raised or
lowered.
·
When the equipment
is in operation,
the
doors (when installed)
must be closed or secured by latch
in the open position.
·
Travel on steep grade shall be straight
up and down vs. sideway. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
·
When necessary
to park on a grade,
do so according
to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
·
Verify that the machine is level
with stabilizing feet and the front bucket down when digging.
·
Equipment shall be kept as far away as practical
from the side
of excavation.
·
Verify that sufficient
room is available to keep spoil pile at
least 2 feet
from side.
·
If the operator leaves the seat of the equipment, the hydraulics shall be lowered to the ground, parking
brake set, chock and block
if necessary and turn the machine off.
·
All unnecessary personnel shall be prohibited from the work area.
·
Hand signals
shall be given by one
person and must be
understood by all personnel on site.
·
When moving a
load, proper rigging and lifting and techniques shall be used.
·
No riders shall be permitted and no personnel shall be lifted or carried
in the bucket.
·
Do not operate
this piece of equipment during stormy conditions. Seek shelter according
to the company’s Emergency
Action Plan.
POST OPERATION
·
Park, set parking
brake, chock and block as necessary.
·
Lower the hydraulics.
·
Shut engine off, remove
key, lock doors and engage
security system (if available).
·
Use 3 points
of contact to exit the machine.
