When it comes to falls from heavy construction equipment, even a five-ft. fall can be serious. A seemingly simple maneuver taken for granted can result in a serious injury. Through proper planning and safety training, you can help raise awareness and aid in the prevention of falls from heavy equipment.

The following are a just a few safety tips to keep in mind, related to preventing falls from heavy equipment:

• The “three point rule” upon entering and existing heavy equipment: When climbing up or down, always have at least three points of contact at all times. (i.e, two feet and one hand, two hands and one foot).
• Use all steps and handrails provided. Make sure they are free of grease and oil, especially if the equipment has been recently serviced.
• Weather is a major factor. Take time to inspect and clean steps and handrails that can become slippery from rain, ice, sleet and snow.
• Proper footwear is necessary—non-slip soles are your best bet.
• Take your time. This is considered one of the most important, yet overlooked, measures you can take to prevent a fall.

We all have the right to a safe workplace and we all have the right to return home safety each and every day to our loved ones, as emphasized earlier this month in the 2015 OSHA National Safety Stand-Down campaign.

By holding ourselves and all others on site accountable, we can work together to continue to raise awareness and help prevent falls from heavy equipment in the construction industry.

This is the second blog post in a series of safety-related posts from DPR safety champions. Read the first post here.