Staying safe around machinery

[sawguy21]

The road in front of my home is being dug up for sewer line replacement. I keep an eye on the proceedings while walking the dog and saw something that disturbed me. A bored worker was scraping the mud from the blade of a small excavator while the operator had her back to him, I have no idea if she knew he was there. I voiced my concern to a crew member but he didn't say anything, later I reported it to city hall.
This is a contractor on a municipal project, I have to wonder if they hold the required safety meetings or if anybody pays attention. It is all too easy to get complacent around machinery. A cousin was killed when he jumped into a trench to retrieve some tools, the excavator swung pinning him against the wall.

[Southside]

You did the right thing, even if the crew disagrees.  It only takes a second to ruin a couple of lives. 

[dgdrls]

We have been coached at work to speak-up anytime and always even when a "perceived in my view" safety issue arises.  U may have saved someone from an accident or worse today.

D

[Hilltop366]

You did the right thing.

Even if the operator knew the other person was there it is still not safe, out of sight out of mind.