Lowboy Trailer Safety

1
Lowboy Trailer Safety
2
Introduction

• Definition of a Lowboy Trailer
• Common uses for Lowboy Trailers
• Common hazards associated with Lowboy operations

3
What is a Lowboy Trailer?

• A Lowboy Trailer is a piece of construction
  equipment that is used to move other pieces of
  construction equipment.
• Lowboy trailers come in many different sizes and
  load capacities.
• Some lowboy trailers are loaded from ramps and
  others are loaded by removing the goose neck

4
What are Common Uses For Lowboy Trailers?

• Moving construction equipment such as bulldozers,
  track hoes, crane components, and loaders
• Moving other equipment such as air conditioners,
  industrial equipment, and crushers
• Loading a Lowboy

5
What are Common Hazards Associated With Lowboy
Operations?

• Pinch Points
• Construction Equipment
• Crushing Hazards
• Operator Error

6
Pinch Points

• There are multiple pinch points involved when
  dealing with a lowboy
• Lowboys with removable goose necks have a greater
  pinch point hazard due to the fact that there are
  moving parts on the trailer.
• Care must be taken when loading a lowboy because
  of the ramps used to load equipment

7
Crushing Hazards

• Lowboys for carrying greater loads have a
  removable goose neck.
• When the trailer is lowered for loading or
  unloading from the front, keep feet and hands
  clear of pinch points

8
Crushing Hazards

• When loading the lowboy care also must be taken
  so that the operators hands or feet do not get
  crushed by the load.

9
Construction Equipment

• Many accidents occur when lowboys are loaded and
  unloaded.
• Remember, when it rains, parts of the equipment
  and trailer are slick (Equipment can slide on
  lowboys).

10
Operator Errors

• Operator improperly loading or unloading lowboys
  (walking equipment over the side).
• Failure to tie equipment down because they are
  only driving on a short haul.
• When a large load is hauled, operator cannot see
  people on the ground or other traffic.

11
Fatalities and Actual Accidents
12
Fatalities

• Out of 34 cases
• 29 people were killed during incident
• 45 unloading/loading
• 14 backed over or ran over
• 10 struck by ramp
• 14 repositioning equipment
• 7 improper loading of material
• 10 faulty equip., park on highway, exposed
  tires
• 3 Electrocutions
• 1 Head and Neck Trauma
• 1 Crushing

13
Actual Accident
14
Actual Accident
15
Questions?