Operating A Backhoe Safely
Operating A Backhoe Safely

A Skid Steer Loader With Backhoe Attachment Or A Backhoeloader In General Can Be Very Productive If It Isoperated Safely And Efficiently. The Best Way Toget The Job Done Safely And Efficiently Is To Knowyourself, The Job Site, And Your Equipment.Even Though The Models Of Backhoes Will Vary, Thereare Safety Features With All Of Them That Includesteps And Grab Handles For Getting On And Off Ofthe Machine. Backhoes Also Feature Frame Lock Leversand Attaching Levers To Keep The Backhoe Securelyfastened To The Loader Frame During Operation As Wellas Transporting.In Addition To These Standard Safety Features, Thereare Some Backhoes That Provide A Safety Chain. Thesafety Chain Will Prevent The Backhoe Mountingframe From Rotating Backwards And Unexpectedly Trapping The Operator, Which Can Result In Seriousinjury Or Death. Therefore, It Is Always Importantto Know And Check All Of The Mounting And Attachmentpoints And The Safety Chain Before You Operate Thebackhoe. If You've Attached The Backhoe To The Loader, Youshould Take A Moment To Inspect It And Perform Anynecessary Maintenance. Check For Broken Or Damaged Parts, Also Making Sure To Check For Leaks,cracks, Excessive Wear, And Check The Controllevers.The Warning And Safety Signs And Instructionaldecals Are Very Important And Will Help You To Avoid Injury. You Should Always Take Them Seriouslyand Replace Any Damaged Or Missing Decals.Every 8 Hours Or So, You Should Grease All Of Thezerk Fittings, And Check The Hydraulic Fluidand Oil And A Daily Basis. If The Fluid Is Low,the Backhoe Will Not Operate. Therefore, Youshould Always Take The Time To Check Your Machine.Anytime You Have To Leave The Operator Seat Of Thebackhoe, You Should Lower The Bucket Or Attachmentto The Ground, Turn The Engine Off, Remove Theignition Key, Then Exit The Machine. When The Time Comes To Drive To The Next Job Site,you Should Always Make Sure That You Have Fullyraised Both The Front And Rear Stabilizers Andmake Sure You've Put The Backhoe Seat Into The"down" Position For Better Visibility. Beforeyou Drive Off, Make Sure That You've Installed Thetransport Locking Pin.Here Are Some Other Things To Keep In Mind:- Always Select The Right Size Bucket Forthe Job.- Stake Out The Work Area That Is Going Tobe Excavated And Use Flags To Mark The Area.- Never Work In Areas That Have Inadequateoverhead Clearances.Always Make Sure That You Keep Bystanders Or Otherworkers Out Of The Swing Area. If Anyone Gets Inthe Way Of The Boom Swinging, They Can Very Easilyget Injured. The Machine Has No Feelings, Therefore You Should Always Be Aware Of Who Isaround You And Where They Are Standing.PPPPP(word Count 469)