Backover Safety Enters Limelight in Construction

Nov 30, 2014

Source: HazCommpliance LLC

There have been numerous workplace fatalities as a result of ground-personnel being run over from reversing heavy equipment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reported 312 fatalities in 2011 due to “pedestrian vehicular accidents” and now OSHA has begun discussions with stakeholders to determine strategies to combat this issue. (see OSHA’s News Release)

In the interim, if you have ground personnel working around heavy equipment, you should take steps to eliminate, or reduce the risks as much as possible. Strategies that may help in reducing the incidence of reversing fatalities/serious injuries may include (but not be limited to):

• Plan the work;
• Develop and implement a traffic management plan and train all persons on “No Go Zones”;
• Know the blind area for all equipment*;
• Use engineering controls such as visual aids/camera/alarms, and other physical means of separating ground persons from equipment;
• Develop safe work practices and provide adequate training;
• Use high visibility /reflective PPE rated for the type of environment and time of works (such as day Vs night works).

It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the above safe work practices are followed. Lack of safety procedures can result in severe injury or worse- death. Recently, a Massachusetts contractor was found to be lacking in such safety procedures after a Policeman lost his life during traffic control on a construction site (read the story )

*The CDC has a detailed website where information about different heavy equipment (makes and brand names) can be viewed, along with their corresponding ‘blind area’ diagrams. This information can be found using the following address:

HazCommpliance LLC can assist with worksite audits, Job Hazard Analyses, PPE assessments and development of safe work practices for your sites. Contact us for more information.

Please be safe.

For more information on safety training or what trainings HazCommpliance can offer your organization please email us at