Heavy machinery is often used in the manufacturing and construction industries, along with several other industries. As an operator of heavy machinery, it is extremely important to use the best safety practices. Many of these practices are common sense for most people, but unfortunately common sense is not always common. Continue reading to learn several important safety tips for operating heavy machinery.

Safety Tips For Operating Heavy Machinery

When operating heavy machinery or any other type of equipment, it is important to be careful and to be aware of the potential dangers that the machinery could cause. Being aware of your surroundings is the first and most important safety precaution that you can take. Oftentimes in settings where you will be operating heavy machinery, there will be all sorts of different people and equipment moving around. Taking care to check your surroundings before and during operating heavy machinery can greatly reduce the probability of someone getting hurt.

Communication Is Key

Like with any situation, communication is key when it comes to operating heavy machinery. Communicating with those around you and having a set plan can help a lot when using potentially dangerous equipment. Having a radio to communicate with other people in the area would be ideal. However, having hand signals that you can use to transfer information may also be beneficial.

Use Safety Equipment

This tip goes without saying but is still important to understand. Oftentimes there are features that are added to equipment or pieces of clothing that are designed to help keep you safe including seatbelts, safety stop features, and hardhats and work boots. It is important to use these things to help keep yourself safe.

Always Do Safety Checks

Whether it be when you are getting ready to mount or dismount a piece of equipment or when you are needing to shut down the equipment for the day, it is always important to do a check and make sure that everything is in working order. Always be careful as you enter and exit areas with heavy equipment and double check switches and things to ensure that nothing is left on.

Some of the most common reasons why people get hurt in work zones is because safety checks were not conducted correctly. By law, companies do inspections of their equipment fairly regularly, but it would be a good idea to make sure to do a daily inspection of your heavy machinery before operating anything.

Make Sure You’re Ready To Go

You are the variable that you can control best. If you are sleepy and are operating heavy machinery, it is not going to go very well. It is vital that you are ready to go when you are operating your equipment. This not only includes being awake enough to operate it, but being mentally and physically able to process and complete the job.

Do You Need A Machinery Repair?

Even with all the safety tips and precautions in the world, there are still times when things happen. If your equipment or machinery has been damaged and needs to be replaced or repaired, we at Sanson Machinery would be more than happy to help you out. We offer many different options for machine replacements including new and used machinery. We also offer high-quality equipment repairs. For more information about how we can be of service to you, reach out to us today!

Heavy machinery and equipment can be difficult to care for if businesses and individuals do not have the proper information. Improper care of equipment can lead to machine failure. The most common reasons why equipment failure happens include improper operation and inability to perform preventive measures. Winter can also lead to failure and can be especially hard on machinery. That is why it is extremely important for you to understand how to prepare your equipment for winter.

Tips To Prepare Your Equipment For Winter

As a heavy equipment owner or operator, it is likely that you want your equipment to last for as long as possible. In order to maintain and elongate your equipment’s useful life, it is crucial to make preparations to mitigate potential threats to your equipment. As previously mentioned, winter can be a big threat to equipment. When temperatures dip below freezing, it can cause equipment to not work properly and may result in needing substantial repairs or to completely replace your equipment which can be extremely costly. The key to making sure that your equipment does not break down or become unusable during the winter is to prepare your equipment for winter early.

Store In A Facility

If you have a lot of equipment or heavy machinery, it may be tempting to keep equipment outside to avoid the costs associated with renting a storage facility. However, the costs that are involved with replacing your equipment are much steeper. Additionally, if a piece of equipment breaks down unexpectedly, that can cause you to lose money in your business or could be frustrating if you need to use the equipment. It is also advisable to keep any fluids that your machinery requires in a separate, warm location. It is important to make sure that fluids for your equipment stay at room temperature to avoid damage to your equipment’s joints.

Run Inspections

An important step to running your equipment is to run a daily inspection of your equipment. Check wiring, attachments, and hoses for cracks or other damage. Make sure to look at your equipment’s belts, hoses, and/or tires and verify that they do not have any cuts or nicks. Periodically have your machinery professionally inspected to safely and easily ensure that there are not any problems with the equipment that you have accidentally missed. It is advisable to get a good inspection of your equipment before winter to avoid more issues.

Make Sure The Engine Is Warm Before Operation

One of the worst mistakes a person can make is running machinery before it has been able to warm up. A cold machine can not only be dangerous to those that are operating it, but it is much more likely to get stuck or stop working randomly. Be sure to also use all of the machine’s functions to avoid any of them getting stuck.

Inflate Tires And Fill Tank

Cold air can cause tires to lose air much faster than warm air, so it is very important for owners or operators to check their tires before every use of the machine to avoid tires becoming deflated. It is also very important for operators to make sure that the gas tank is filled at the end of every use. A tank that is not properly filled can freeze, which can be quite the hassle and can take time to thaw.

Need Equipment Repairs

Even if you have followed all of these tips, mistakes can still happen and age is inevitable. If your equipment is in need of repairs, you have come to the right spot. We at Sanson Machinery offer comprehensive, quality repairs for all sorts of heavy duty equipment and machinery. We also offer options for replacements. If your machine has recently broken down, contact us to get it fixed or replaced.

Every machine will eventually need maintenance or repairs in order to stay in good condition. It is important to ensure that you choose good-quality repairs in order to minimize any additional issues that may impact your operations. Our professionals at Sanson Machinery are well-equipped to provide you with top-notch repairs to keep your machinery functioning. Here are a few tips to help you choose a service technician for your machinery.

Experience

Ask about the experience of the technician when you are trying to make a decision. Experience is crucial in ensuring that they will be well-equipped to make the appropriate repairs to the machinery. This will go a long way toward reducing problems and optimizing your repairs. It is also important to note that this is not a DIY job, so you need to leave repairs to the professionals.

Specialty

Various service technicians may have various specialties. For example, one may focus on handling industrial equipment, while another may work on a different type of machinery. When you hire a service technician that works in your industry, you will be able to obtain higher quality repairs.

Understand the Importance of Repairs

When you hire a service technician, it will be important for both you and the technician to be aware of the importance of repairs and maintenance. This will enable them to provide you with the appropriate services to keep your machinery in good condition. Regular maintenance can often even prevent repairs from becoming necessary. This maintenance can help to extend the overall lifetime of your machinery, as well.

Availability

Sometimes you will need repairs to be made much more quickly than a particular service technician may have available. You will need to keep your own time frame in mind to help ensure that you choose the right service technician to meet all of your needs. The longer your machinery is out of commission, the more money you will lose and the longer your operations will be disrupted. You will also need to keep your own schedule in mind to ensure that you can schedule the appointment at a convenient time for you.

Offer Maintenance

A cohesive approach to your machine care can help you to keep your machinery in better condition. In order to provide this for your machinery, you should often work with a service technician that offers both maintenance and repair services. This will help you to obtain a comprehensive approach to your machine’s condition. These services tend to go a long way toward eliminating problems and ensuring that your machines to function effectively.

Familiarity with Equipment

In order to ensure that top-quality repairs are made to your machinery, you will need to ensure that you hire a service technician that is familiar with your equipment. This will help them to diagnose the underlying issue that is impacting your machinery. These services also help to ensure that the repairs can be made efficiently and effectively.

Our expert service technicians at Sanson Machinery can help to ensure that all of your machinery requirements are met. Our team can also guide you through the process of choosing the ideal machine to meet all of your company’s needs. For more information about our experienced team at Sanson Machinery and the importance of machinery repairs, contact us today!