Spotter Safety Toolbox Talk

Spotter Safety Talk

Most construction sites rely on a variety of heavy machinery, equipment, and vehicles to get the job done. These can range from semi-trucks, to bulldozers, to cranes.

These large vehicles and machines require qualified operators. Even then, the most skilled users still need assistance from a spotter. Large vehicles often have blind spots, and it is helpful to have someone on the outside of the equipment to safely scan the area and alert the driver of any objects or dangers in the way.

This is the role of a spotter.

What is a spotter in construction?

A spotter is a second pair of eyes and ears for drivers and equipment operators on the jobsite. They stand near the equipment or vehicle and feed information to the driver, including directions, and they alert the driver to obstacles that can't be seen or heard from the driver's seat. Spotters can also be referred to as observers, signalers, and guides.

Spotting for equipment has been effective in preventing accidents between pedestrians and heavy equipment, but there are also some precautions spotters must follow to keep themselves safe.

If you are asked to be a spotter on your construction site, make sure you understand exactly what your role is and ask the driver or your foreman to provide information about the task before you start spotting for anyone.

Forklift spotter responsibilities

On a construction site, it is common to see a forklift moving heavy materials from one place to another. Forklift spotters are often needed, and while it may seem like a simple and easy job, forklift spotting is fairly complex. If you want to be a forklift spotter, you should complete a comprehensive training program before you take on the responsibilities that come with it.

A forklift spotter ensures that a truck operator lifts a load properly and moves it to the correct location. This can include ensuring that the load is balanced so it will not fall off the lift. Once the forklift is being driven, the spotter will then ensure that the load or the forklift does not hit anything, including people or objects.

Forklift spotter requirements

Some job duties of a forklift spotter include:

• Directing a travel route when a driver's vision is blocked

• Directing the positioning of a load on the forks when it is being lifted

• Watching for drop-offs, overhead wires, piping, and other hazards when lifting a load or moving a load

• Keeping pedestrians away from the hazardous area and travel paths

• Following the forklift while traveling to protect the lift, the load, and other vehicles

Most construction jobsites are noisy, and it might be hard for others to hear you, making it difficult to communicate with your coworkers and other drivers. Spotters use a variety of signals that work better than voice commands in these instances. Before starting a spotting job, you should ensure that both you and the driver know the signals that will be used to communicate. These signals can include "back-up," "slow down," "move forward," "stop," and more.

Heavy equipment spotter responsibilities

The need for spotters on a construction site extends far beyond forklifts to all heavy equipment. Many jobs can benefit from a spotter's help, including jobs that use aerial lifts, cranes, bulldozers, and any other heavy equipment where the driver may not be able to see clearly. Spotters are essential when you are working around overhead hazards including structures, steel columns, and especially live power lines.

When traveling down narrow paths and tight spaces, a spotter is also needed to help navigate the space. Heavy equipment spotters have the same basic duties that forklift spotters do. They help guide aerial lift and equipment operators when they are moving their vehicle or equipment. Heavy equipment spotters can also scan the area for trip and fall hazards and ensure other workers stay out of the path of travel.

Before you serve as a spotter for heavy equipment, make sure you have a plan with the operator and a clear understanding of what exactly you are doing and where you are going. You should agree on hand signals as well as the travel route.

Safety practices for spotters

It does not matter if you are spotting for a forklift driver or for someone operating heavy equipment, there are some safety practices you should follow. These include:

• Wearing highly visible clothing

• Avoiding walking into the path of a vehicle, moving equipment, or a swinging load

• Avoiding walking behind heavy equipment while spotting

• Standing where an aerial lift or other vehicle is going while flagging it back

• Scanning a worksite for hazards and remove them before a job

• Ensuring a forklift driver stops if they lose sight of their driver

• Focusing on your job

• Not using a phone, headphones, or other items that can be distracting while spotting

• Agreeing on hand signals before you start a spotting job

• Making sure you keep constant visual contact with the driver while the vehicle is in motion

When you are planning a job and travel route with a driver, see if the need to backup can be eliminated. If not, minimize the number of times you would need to back up the machinery to keep everyone safe. If you have never spotted before or operated the machinery, discuss any concerns with the driver or your foreman to make sure everyone is doing the job correctly. This will help everyone prevent accidents on a construction site.

Spotter training

OSHA regulations require that a spotter be present when working with forklifts and heavy equipment. Regardless of OSHA requirements, it is always a good idea to be a trained spotter. Forklift and heavy equipment spotter training involves learning to drive the equipment as well as best spotting practices. That way, if a new driver is needed, a spotter can take over and a driver can serve as the spotter. Training can also ensure that everyone uses the same hand signals and knows the best course of action.

Stay safe & use a spotter

Forklift and heavy equipment spotters are crucial in the construction industry to maintain a safe worksite. Spotters should understand their day-to-day responsibilities so they can help complete various tasks without putting themselves and their coworkers in danger.