When you’re using heavy machinery to complete construction, demolition or maintenance work, especially on uneven or unstable ground, things can get dangerous quickly if you forget an essential safety step: the use of hardwood mats.
A hardwood crane mat is a potentially lifesaving piece of equipment that can create the stable conditions needed to complete work in soft soil or on weak ground. Even seemingly solid surfaces can be less stable than they appear. For example, a crane incident in China took place earlier this year that involved an outrigger that actually punched through the concrete block it was braced on, leading to a devastating crane turnover. While no one was hurt in the accident, this is just one of the clear examples of how using mats can improve your safety of your job site.
Using crane mats and outrigger pads provides a more stable surface for heavy machinery to operate on, as well as helps evenly disperse the weight of the equipment.
An even and stable surface is crucial for safe operation of industrial machinery, as it helps to prevent tipover, potentially saving your workers lives. Even if your job site is on solid ground, mats can help make your operation safer. Nothing can be certain in geology, and the earth under your machinery bears a huge load. One heavy rain can oversaturate the ground with water, or there may be underground air pockets or sinkholes that aren’t apparent until it’s too late.
The smartest thing you can do to prevent an accident at the job site is ensure that every job that requires the use of heavy machinery also has a proper setup of a hardwood mats and outrigging pads to prevent accidental turnover.
At Ritter Forest Products, our hardwood mats and crane outrigger pads are perfect for improving the safety and stability of your jobsite. With rental and shipping options available to anywhere in the U.S., we can get our mats to you quickly and conveniently.
For more information on any of our pads or mats, give us a call, stop by one of our convenient locations, or request a quote online today!
