The clearing of land is a very important process prior to construction, starting farming activities or landscaping. As simple as it may sound it can be a dangerous affair when it is not carefully undertaken. Cutting trees, bushes, rocks, and other junk can even entail the use of heavy machinery, physical labor, and danger to the environment. Knowledge of primary risks can assist property owners and employees to make the requisite precautions in order to remain safe. These are five significant threats discussed in this article that may occur when clearing land in Travis County.
Heavy Machinery Injuries:
The most important risks in clearing land is through the use of the heavy machinery. From stump grinders to bulldozers, excavators to chainsaws, all are necessary to ensure that the work in being done efficiently and fastly. But there is no doubt that such machines can be unsafe to use if the person using it has no training or experience.
Accidents that can occur to the workers include rolling of the equipment they engage with, being hit by moving equipment or even failure of machines. Even the smallest errors may result in severe injuries or even deaths. To avoid accidents when handling the machinery, it is necessary to have proper training, wear the safety gear and carry out the instruction as given by the manufacturers to prevent such accidents.
Falling Trees and Branches:
A major aspect of clearing land is usually tree cutting. It is unfortunate that not all trees and big branches fall as they should. Unhealthy, fallen or leaning trees may fall at any time injuring workers and the buildings around them.
Injuries or damages to properties may be caused by any falling object. Professional clearing crews plan the whole process of clearing carefully for minimizing this risk, starting from which trees should be removed and then checking the direction in which the tree would fall as well as maintaining a sufficient distance from falling tree.
Hidden Underground Hazards:
Yet another risk involved in the clearing of land is the possibility of having the hidden objects under the soil. The buried utilities be it the gas pipes, water lines or the electrical cables, may be accidently struck by the excavation. Hitting a gas line, e.g., may result in explosions or fires, and hitting an electrical line may result in electrocution.
The other hazards encountered in underground might be the old foundations, tree stumps, or debris that was left behind during the old use of the land. The accidents can be avoided due are by utilizing appropriate surveying instruments and also contacting utility companies before commencing excavation.
Uneven Terrain and Slopes:
Undeveloped or overgrown land has uneven surfaces and normally has concealed holes, tree roots, and rocks. Whenever operating on sloppy or hilly grounds, the chances of machinery and equipment overturning or employees stumbling and falling are high. Moving through loose soil, mud, or steep slopes can only add more difficulties especially to heavy equipment.
Such terrain should be taken seriously by even experienced operators. Employees are expected to wear the right shoes and machines should be used at reasonable speeds. The risk of accidents may also be minimized by planning the land clearing in parts and stabilizing the areas that are likely to collapse.
Wildlife and Environmental Hazards:
Clearance of land can frequently disrupt the natural habitats and this may also result in wildlife encroachment. Animals, snakes, and insects could be of danger to workers. In addition to this, dry plants and dry weather can also be of danger particularly when heavy machinery generates spark or when the debris is disposed of inappropriately. Utilisation of protective machinery, always having a fire extinguisher at hand, and clearing the area carefully as well as looking for wildlife is crucial when doing safe land clearing.