One of a free 84 part series on construction safety talks. Available in English and Spanish.

1. Construction Safety Talks
Backing Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk.
Equipment Most of the fatal accidents that occur during road construction
work involve backing equipment that is moving, usually, at slow
No. 8 speeds.
Equipment involved includes:
How This Talk • trucks
Applies To My
Crew: • dozers
• graders
• front end loaders
In each case the dead employee was not the equipment operator,
but someone working on grade.
Here are three typical accidents:
• A laborer was spotting dump trucks in a fill area. She was
walking backwards when a truck backed over her.
• A grade supervisor was setting grade stakes. He leaned
over to check a stake when a dozer backed over him.
• A laborer was cleaning up coverage from an adjacent lane
on an asphalt paving job when he was struck by a hot-mix
batch truck backing into the paving machine.
The lesson is: if you're on foot, keep your eye on moving
equipment!
Backing Safety Tips
• Don't go into an area where equipment is backing unless
you have a specific job to do there.
• If you are driving, know where your spotter is at all times.
Know where all the people are who are working near you.
Make sure your backup alarm is working.
• Those who must enter a backing area should wear traffic
vests, communicate with operators, and consider using a
vehicle as an identification marker.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1

2. • Any time you approach equipment, make eye contact with the operator so they
know you are there.
• Schedule grade checking for the operator's lunch time.
Try This For Show And Tell!
Take the crew to a piece of earth moving or paving equipment and have one of them sit
in the driver's seat. Then have someone stand behind the machine to show the crew
how difficult it is for the driver to see anyone who is behind them.
Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking:
• Which operations on our job involve backing equipment?
• Do you have bi-directional equipment? Address how these are handled.
• Are there reasons for employees on foot to be in the areas where these
operations are going on?
• What is the Number 1 rule for use of a spotter?
• Has anyone ever had an accident, or know of one involving backing equipment?
Attended By:
The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at
the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the
appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2