How to utilize sweeper in power sweeping

Operating a sweeper during re-paving operations is never the same from one jobsite to the next. For that reason, only experienced sweeping companies usually even bid on the jobs. Then, only senior operators are sent to operate sweepers on milling sites.

Even then, accidents happen. Primarily, this is due to the variable nature of what occurs during paving operations. All types of roadways are paved, which creates many different scenarios for how both the men and all the rest of the jobsite equipment operate. Also in play is what might be called the rush factor. Many milling operations have strict lane closure times that must be adhered to, and the nature of the sweeping function means the sweeper often still has work to do when the majority of the rest of the crews go home. When this occurs, the foremen operator is sometimes left on the job without the proper safety personnel or equipment. For example, an attenuator may not be needed while flaggers are onsite, but be necessary if flaggers are no longer present.

Another factor is that the sweeper, which in most other types of sweeping jobs is on its own, is often mixed in closely with the rest of the equipment and personnel on milling jobsites. This naturally increases the likelihood of accident or injury to ground personnel.

As a quick checklist, on milling jobsites:

• Have the right sweeper for the job, and an experienced operator at the controls.
• Make sure all of the employee's safety equipment is 100% operational.
• Use only operators who know when unsafe conditions exist and who have the forcefulness to not operate the sweeper in an unsafe manner.
• Try to separate the foremen from other equipment and personnel on the jobsite whenever possible.
• Ideally, have an overall safety officer on the jobsite whenever more than one milling machine is in operation.
• At minimum, have a ground-based 'watcher,' whose job it is to ensure no human or other obstacles can be struck, whenever the foremen is backing up.
• Document in writing any safety (or other) concerns you have with the General Contractor, so these will be on file.

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