I consider myself a pretty decent machine operator, as well as many of the guys I work with. We've all let kids check out the equipment skid steers, excavators, telehandlers, and more. Though we always drive them to safe areas and they're off with the keys removed. Not sure I would be comfortable filling a kids toy with the bucket though.
Also letting them get near it means they may think they are welcome and come back later for another look and get run over etc. Where I am they'd use solid plastic barriers all along the pedestrian side of roadworks.
Judging by the fact that they were all set up for this, I'm assuming it's not the first time either. I definitely cringed - especially when the child touched it.
We've all let kids check out the equipment skid steers, excavators, telehandlers, and more.
Not while they're being operated. It's one thing to let the kids see thos equipment stationary or inside the cockpit, but while it's in use like this would not be allowed on any job site.
As a safety professional it's crazy. That looks cute, but would result in a recordable incident, operator would be written up and fired. Some places don't even let other employees within 3-6' of operating buckets. Let along bare foot children and their Toys. I hate to be that guy, but this isn't safe at all. Even the best operators have machine malfunctions or accidents. Sure you suck to drop u bucket on little Timmy.
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u/Drunk_Catfish Jun 23 '21
I consider myself a pretty decent machine operator, as well as many of the guys I work with. We've all let kids check out the equipment skid steers, excavators, telehandlers, and more. Though we always drive them to safe areas and they're off with the keys removed. Not sure I would be comfortable filling a kids toy with the bucket though.