To encourage safety on the job site, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers has developed Best Practice Guidelines for Addressing Buried Hazards. The guidelines document was prepared by the association’s Masonry and Concrete Saw Manufacturers Institute, which is made up of more than a dozen companies.
The SMI buried hazards guidelines stress the importance of proper operator training, planning and foresight. The SMI guidelines urge operators of concrete-cutting, sawing and drilling equipment to be well prepared, use observation skills and common sense, take all available and appropriate steps to verify buried utility locations, ensure that all identified utilities have been completely shut down, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and continue to exercise vigilance throughout the cutting process.
The SMI guidelines are presented in a “tips” format that covers locating and disabling a variety of hazards. The guidelines therefore also discuss implementation of a wellrehearsed response plan. Finally, the guidelines review the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
SMI sought input from the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association on the guidelines.
www.aem.org
