Machinery comes in all types of sizes, large, small, and medium. The size of these equipment determines how easily you can carry them from one point to another. Suppose you’re a project manager who’s won a contract in another state. The project requires the use of heavy equipment, such as an excavator. You might have invested in an excavator by buying one as a company. Therefore, you’ll need to move it to the project location. How will you handle this moving, factoring in safety? Worry not; this article highlights some tips you can adopt to ensure safe transit. Read on!
Consider doing the following:
- Use A Suitable Means Of Transport
Transporting heavy equipment requires special equipment. Before delving into the possible tools you can use, it’s good to note that you can choose to move your equipment by sea or road. If time isn’t an issue, consider going for the sea means of transport. However, if time isn’t a luxury, go for the road.
Whichever means of transport you use, ensure you consider its size and weight carrying capacity. Suppose your equipment extends lengthwise. It’d help to get a flatbed truck that’ll accommodate the whole length. The same should apply to the width. No part of your equipment should hang outside. It can endanger other motorists on the road. If it’s possible to detach some compartments, go ahead and do so to contain the equipment and ensure it’s in its smallest size during transit.
Also, ensure that the method you use can handle the weight of your equipment. Heavy equipment on a ship can make the ship sink or capsize, which is dangerous. On the other hand, an overloaded truck on the road can tip over, leading to accidents. If you can’t find the appropriate vehicle to use for your heavy equipment, consider seeking expert transport services. They have the tools and will choose the most appropriate one for your machinery.
- Properly Secure The Equipment
Once you’ve identified the means of transport you’ll use, you need to place your heavy equipment on the truck or trailer. How you go about this determines safety.
Start by preparing your equipment. Remove any loose parts that could fall apart. Besides getting lost, they could fall on other motorists on the road, causing injuries. Disengage the battery of the equipment and secure the door locks in place. Use tape or wrapping paper to hold the doors in place. You don’t want a situation where the door suddenly opens during transit and causes instability to the truck.
Once you’ve prepared your equipment, place it on the truck you’re using. If possible, place it in a central location to balance out the weight. Secure the tool in place using fasteners in all directions. Ensure the fasteners are tight enough that your equipment can’t move about. When not properly secured, sudden brakes can push the tool forward, and it could hit the truck carrying it. Depending on the impact, it could cause accidents.
It’d help to warn other road users of what you’re carrying for them to keep their distance from your truck.
- Educate Your Team
In moving, your team is hands-on, handling the equipment you’re moving. You might invest in all the latest technologies, but their efficiency depends on your workers. Therefore, you need to educate them about everything safety.
First, your drivers need to have professional driving skills; defensive driving is a plus. Your drivers aren’t like any other driver out there. They’re handling heavy and expensive tools. A mishap could lead to an accident and damage to equipment leading to losses.
Besides ensuring they have the necessary driving skills, train them in first aid and how they should handle heavy equipment. They should also learn how to operate this heavy machinery should the need arise. In addition, please provide them with appropriate gear and train them on how to use them. The most common personal safety gears are a helmet, harness, and gloves.
- Have Appropriate On-Loading And Off-Loading Equipment
The process of on and off-loading heavy equipment is delicate. A small hiccup could lead to fatal injuries. Here, safety is a concern for both your workers and equipment.
It’s essential that you invest in the appropriate tools for the job. You can choose to work with forklifts or skates; the list is endless. However, forklifts are the most preferred to help you move your equipment over short distances. You can use the forklift to lift the heavy equipment and place it on the skates. Skates have wheels; therefore, you won’t need to worry about lifting during transit.
During this process, ensure that only those experienced with the tools operate them. A fall during hoisting can damage your equipment and possibly injure a worker.
Conclusion
Moving heavy machinery and equipment needs a lot of careful handling. This article discusses ways you can ensure you move your tools safely. Consider adopting the tips given, and you won’t have to worry about the safety of your team and the equipment.
