06/09/2026
Safety Topic Tuesday: Navigating the Danger Zone – Blind Spots and Swing Radius
In heavy-civil construction, staying safe means staying visible. As Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainers, the Parrish & Sons Construction team prioritizes the prevention of "Struck-By" hazards: one of the industry's "Fatal Four." When you’re working around excavators, loaders, and haul trucks, understanding the machine's "No-Zone" is critical.
Key Safety Protocols for Every Site:
1. Maintain Eye Contact: Never approach heavy equipment until you have made direct eye contact with the operator and received a clear signal to proceed.
2. The Swing Radius Rule: Always stay outside the full reach of an excavator’s boom and bucket. If the machine is rotating, the danger zone is 360 degrees.
3. Respect the Blind Spots: Large machines have significant visibility gaps. If you can’t see the operator in their mirrors, they cannot see you.
4. Communication is Key: Use standardized hand signals or radio communication when working near active machinery.
A safe site is a productive site. Let’s look out for one another.
