A dump truck can provide your firm with lots of convenience when transporting heavy material. But if you don’t take the proper precautions when using it, you may cause the truck to tip over, leading to damage and loss of life. You can take better care of the truck and yourself by reading about these five ways you can prevent a dump truck from flipping over.
Operate It on a Level Surface
One of the key safety tips for dump truck loading is to operate it on a level surface. If you don’t take such precautions while dumping, you risk changing the vehicle’s center of gravity and causing it to tip. Instead, make sure the ground is flat before adding or removing materials.
Don’t Ignore the Weight Limits
Dump trucks have weight limits for a good reason. These restrictions keep you and others safe. As you’re loading the truck with materials, make sure you don’t go beyond the limits. Doing so may result in the truck flipping.
Avoid Soft Areas
Ensuring you aren’t operating your vehicle in soft areas is another way to prevent a dump truck from flipping over. Unfortunately, if you do so, you may find that the ground will move due to the heaviness of your vehicle, which can result in an accident.
Transport the Load With the Proper Vehicle
Moving your load with the proper dump truck is another way to avoid these incidents. For example, if you need to distribute aggregate for road builders, try going with a belly-dump semi-trailer. Using a vehicle that shows steadiness as you operate it is essential.
Check Your Vehicle Regularly
You can even avoid tip-overs by doing something that you should always do regularly with your dump truck: checking and maintaining it. For example, ensure that the hoist cylinders are operating correctly. You may find that it’s time for you to replace them, which will help prevent an accident from happening in the future.
These tips will help you take better care and keep your accident rate low. Your workers will stay safe as they move your clients’ materials efficiently.
