It’s a position that nobody wants to be in. You are operating your skid steer on a construction site. You lift a load that’s just a little too heavy. You can feel your machine begin to tip to one side. You know you are about to be caught in a rollover. What do you do?
At Skid Steer Safety Training, we are focused on the safety of employees at the worksite. With any site that uses skid steers, we commonly see accidents such as rollovers. Believe it or not, most heavy machines are designed to handle rollovers and keep their occupants safe. However, there are still many fatalities associated with rollovers. As the CDC suggests, maybe it’s hard to fully grasp the danger a rollover can present.
When it comes to operating your skid steer, there are a few things you should learn now that can protect you in the future. Here are three things you should do to prepare for a skid steer rollover:
No matter what, always wear your seatbelt. Whenever you are in the cab of a skid steer (unless you are working around water), the seat belt should strap you in. If the skid steer begins to roll, and you haven’t fastened your seatbelt, it’s already too late.
Once you feel the skid steer begin to roll, brace yourself. Get a firm grip on your machine, make sure you are well-positioned in the seat and get ready for the ride.
It may seem like a good idea to jump from the cab. Never do this! The safest place you can be during a rollover is inside the skid steer’s protective cage. Stay in and ride it out. Do not get out until the skid steer has come to a complete stop.
These are all keys to keeping yourself during a fall. However, the best thing you can do is get proper training so you can operate a skid steer safely. For more information on skid steer safety training, visit our online skids steer course. Good luck and stay safe!
