Thu August 20, 2015 - National Edition CEG

Your backhoe loader is a workhorse that is an asset on many construction sites. It’s important to keep up on maintenance and attend to any service and repair issues immediately, so you can get the most from your investment and enjoy the safe operation of the machine. Regular maintenance can also help you extend the life of the components and improve uptime. Daily preventative maintenance and well-trained equipment operators are two ways to ensure a safe and long life for your backhoe loader.

Safety Comes First on the Construction Site

We all want to be safe and productive in our jobs. Unfortunately, construction workers face the highest risk for injury due to the nature of their work environment and the pressure that can accompany certain projects. While nearly every workplace can feel the tension of an important project, workers that run heavy equipment need to be conditioned to not let high pressure interfere with safety — which can result in tragic and disastrous outcomes.

Operator education shouldn’t just happen once, but it should be a continually evolving part of the job. Obvious training on the operation of the equipment is highly important, but so are other necessary actions of the operator to get their job done safely and productively.

To provide your operator with the best work experience and have your expensive machinery treated well, follow these tips related to operator responsibilities:

Everyone that is close to an operational backhoe loader also needs to be correctly trained on safety measures for heavy machinery. One small mistake can lead to a fatal tragedy. To keep safety intact, make the following advice part of your site worker training:

Preventative Maintenance That Gets the Job Done

When your equipment operators and other site workers are knowledgeable about proper conduct on and around your machinery, it’s a solid foundation to the successful and timely completion of many jobs. Keep making that foundation strong with a preventive maintenance plan by following the steps below:

The Daily Inspection Walk around and inspect your machine as indicated by the manufacturer. Check the cutting edge of the bucket for wear and signs that it needs replaced, and also check to see if all the bolts are still intact and tight. Check any component that makes contact with the ground for wear, specifically the bucket pins, swing pins and backhoe hoses. Check the boom and stick for leaks and wear, and then make sure bucket teeth are all there with retainer pins. Look under the machine for signs of leaks. Make sure the air filter is still in good shape. Inspect the tires to check the pressure and look for any cuts.

Fluid Maintenance Check the coolant and windshield washer levels and top them, if needed. Make sure engine oil and hydraulic fluid stays clean. Take extra care to avoid contamination of the systems from careless checking and filling

Improper greasing is one of the leading causes of preventable breakdowns. Use the recommended grade of grease, and make sure your maintenance person is aware of every joint that should be greased. There will be several joints that require daily greasing as well as a weekly greasing schedule. The key is not to apply to little or too much lubrication. Refer to your operation and maintenance manual for your backhoe loader to learn about the specifications of the manufacturer.

Make Safety and Maintenance Your Priority

Creating a preventative maintenance schedule that includes a thorough inspection by the operator and a scheduled weekly or bi-weekly meeting with your maintenance crew will keep your backhoe loader going strong and working hard. Keeping your equipment in prime shape is an ideal way to reduce downtime. However, the focus on safety protocol is equally as important to the life of your equipment and the productivity of your workforce. Safety and maintenance always go hand-in-hand.

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