EQUIPMENT PROTOCOLS FOR FREEZING OVERNIGHT CONDITIONS

As we move into the season of regular overnight freezing, we need everyone to tighten up on a few critical responsibilities. The issues we have been seeing are not minor inconveniences. When equipment is not cleaned, stored, or operated properly in cold conditions, it creates safety hazards, damages machines, and makes it harder for others to do their jobs safely and efficiently. These problems are preventable, and it is on all of us to take the right steps at the end of every shift and the start of every morning.

Clean tracks thoroughly before parking for fuel.
Tracks should be cleaned before you pull into your final fuel spot. Cleaning them afterward leaves piles of material that freeze solid overnight. This creates major tripping hazards for Doug when he is fueling at night in freezing temperatures, and frozen debris causes the fuel hose to hang up or catch on those piles. Taking the time to clean tracks in the right order also makes your own morning walk-around easier, since you are not climbing around frozen chunks of material around your machine. A few minutes of effort prevents a long list of safety and efficiency problems.

Keep the right rear bumper clean on all 938 loaders.
If this area is not cleaned and it freezes, Doug cannot access the fuel door. This delays fueling, causes unnecessary downtime, and prevents machines from being ready when you need them. A few extra minutes of attention prevents these issues entirely.

Rollers and excavator compactors must be placed on lumber.
Place these machines on 4x4s or similar lumber to prevent them from freezing to the ground. When they freeze in place, the rubber components are put under unnecessary stress when you try to break them free in the morning, increasing the chance of damage or premature wear. Proper placement protects our equipment and avoids preventable delays.

Give equipment adequate warm-up time in the morning.
Cold hydraulic systems do not perform well and can be damaged if worked too hard before they are warmed up. Machines should idle long enough for fluids to begin circulating, and operators should slowly work the controls without a load to move hydraulic oil through the system. This gradual warm-up helps prevent blowouts, sluggish operation, and excessive strain on hoses, pumps, and seals. Taking a few minutes to do this the right way keeps the equipment running safely and reduces the likelihood of costly breakdowns.

We all rely on the same equipment and support systems to get through each workday safely. These steps are not difficult, but they are essential. Doing your part at the end of the shift and the start of the day means safer conditions for others, fewer delays, less equipment damage, and a better workflow for the entire team.

Thank you for taking these expectations seriously and doing everything in your power to help each other out.