Outrigger safety doesn’t have to be maddening
Best practices on job sites are a lot like fundamentals in sports.
Master them, and you’ll consistently win. But if you neglect them, it’s at your own risk.
The legendary basketball coach John Wooden once captured this idea quite poignantly:
If you spend too much time learning the ‘tricks’ of the trade, you may not learn the trade. There are no shortcuts.
If you’re working on finding a short cut, the easy way, you’re not working hard enough on the fundamentals. You may get away with it for a spell, but there is no substitute for the basics.
Maybe I’m thinking about basketball today because of March Madness, but I know I’m thinking about job site safety fundamentals because at DICA, it’s in our DNA.
In particular, I’ve got best practices for safe, level outrigger setups on my mind. We just released a new product called LevelRight. It’s an engineered pad that makes it easier to create a level surface for your setup — so easy, in fact, that it could almost be seen as a shortcut.
The problem is, though, it’s not.
It’s a tool.
Just like a new pair of Air Jordan’s won’t make you jump higher, a great tool isn’t a substitute for knowing the best practices for level setups.
5 Keys to Having Safe, Level Setups Every Time
Ideally, every operator will do these five things automatically.
Unfortunately, though, that’s not often how fundamentals work. It can be easy to ignore them or let things slide a little.
So, like a good coach who keeps his team focused on the basics, I want to emphasize the following best practices quickly. That way, as you read through, you can monitor how you’re doing and make any adjustments you need to.
Best Practice #1 – Bring what you need to the jobsite
Nothing beats being prepared — and nothing looks quite so unprofessional as scouring the jobsite for what you need to level your equipment.
To ensure safe and level setups every time, you need to carry the tools you need with you on your truck.
Why? Well, let’s continue talking about the fundamentals.
Best Practice #2 – Dig when you can
When you can, it’s always best to dig to create a level surface.
Sure, sometimes you’re setting up on concrete and digging isn’t possible. Plus, I get it — digging takes time and effort.
For safe and level setups, though, nothing beats starting with level ground.
Best Practice #3 – Put down engineered dunnage
You need to be sure your supporting materials adequately distribute your equipment’s load.
Now, to be fair, your dunnage doesn’t have to be.a DICA engineered material. Wood timbers, plywood, and steel can work, too.
Regardless of the material, though, you want to make sure it is an engineered solution so you know exactly what it is capable of.
You don’t want to leave your safety to chance.
(Note: Getting your dunnage correct is a fundamental skill in its own right, and I won’t go into how to do that here. For more on this topic, check out this article written by Kris, our CEO.)
Best Practice #4 – Make sure you’re level in every direction
Before you place your outrigger or crib up, you need to be sure the surface under your outrigger will be level.
When you can’t dig, you need to use one or more wedges to level things out. Many people rely on scrap wood here, but engineered wooden or plastic wedges are a much better choice.
Still, getting a level surface in every direction can be tricky. Usually, ground is unlevel in not just one, but two planes, meaning it has both a slant and a tilt to it. Furthermore, most wedges have a set angle to them, making it hard or even impossible to get things exactly right.
LevelRight shines in situations like these. Its rotating wedges and built-in level can help you get to level more quickly, but it’s definitely not a shortcut — it’s just a better way to get this fundamental practice right.
Best Practice #5 – Block or crib up
You don’t have a level setup until your equipment is level, too.
On slanted ground or steep terrain, make sure you use blocking or cribbing according to your equipment manufacturers recommendations.
Again, using an engineered solution here is ideal so you know you can count on your setup.
Maximizing Your Time and Money
Safe, level setups pay off in ways that are about more than just safety.
Regardless of how you choose to do so, following these best practices will:
- Save you money because always being level will extend equipment life and minimize the risk of failures or repairs.
- Show that you come prepared and are a serious professional.
- Help your crews be more productive because they don’t have to reconfigure setups as often or worry if things will fail.
Better yet, the more you focus on these fundamentals, the less likely you are to experience punch throughs, walking equipment or tip overs.
After all, when it comes to safe, productive job sites, winning is simple — you and your crews do great work and everyone goes home at the end of the day each and every day.
To do that, there really isn’t a substitute for the basics.
To learn more about how DICA’s engineered products can help you be safe and more productive, check out the website pages for products mentioned in this article: LevelRight Adjustable Pads, Our Outrigger & Crane Pad Lineup, and our Cribbing and Blocking options.
For help figuring out the right products for your equipment, or to place an order, contact us at sales@dicausa.com or call 800-610-3422.