Responsibilities - Employees and Personnel Providers

A thorough understanding of how backover accidents occur and the health risks associated with those injuries are crucial to developing a good response plan and protecting the health and safety of employees. It is important for construction equipment operators to be aware of occupation-specific practices that could further protect them, such as the following:

• Inspecting the vehicle, equipment, and safety devices at the beginning of each shift and reporting any issues to the supervisor or employee
• Removing defective equipment from service until repairs are made
• Ensuring mirrors and windows are in working order, as follows:
  • Functioning
  • In good condition
  • Clean
  • Properly adjusted
• Staying aware of equipment and vehicle blind areas
• Watching for workers
• Using and maintaining contact with a spotter when backing any vehicle or equipment
• Stopping work immediately if contact is lost with a spotter

Workers on foot are at particular risk for construction backover and are responsible for following specific precautions, as follows:

• Always wearing high visibility apparel that is appropriate for the task and environment
• Being aware of equipment and vehicle blind areas and avoiding being near these areas
• Confirming communications signals with an operator and not approaching until the operator gives acknowledgment
• Being aware of equipment travel paths and avoiding standing or walking in these areas
• Listening for reverse signal alarms in the area
• Not relying solely on one safety practice
• Always being aware of the surroundings and ensuring that workers are aware of you

Employees on constructions sites have responsibilities, too. Employees should adhere to training protocols, such as knowing the following:

• How to follow standard operating procedures
• How and when to use personal protective equipment (PPE)
• The importance of compliance, equipment operation, and servicing
• How to use first aid
• What to do in the event of an emergency in the workplace

Federal law stipulates that an employee has a right to a safe workplace. As an employee on a construction site, you have many rights, including the following:

• To speak up without fear of retaliation
• To work on machines that are safe
• To be trained in a language you understand
• To be provided required safety equipment
• To request OSHA inspections and speak with the inspector
• To report a related injury or illness
• To be provided copies of your medical records

These rights, along with others, are already granted to you. In the instance that you feel working conditions are unsafe in any way, you can contact OSHA and file a confidential complaint. OSHA representatives are also available via email, phone, or in person to answer any questions you might have and to discuss these rights.

Employees are responsible for following the safety guidelines and participating in the training provided for preventing backover incidents.

Personnel Providers

Personnel providers are responsible for informing the potential employee about risks associated with working for a client, such as backover accidents.

To learn more about Backover Safety visit our Construction Backover Safety Online Training web page.