Whether you have an organized pile sitting next to your keys or laying on the seat of your truck, there are many daily carry items that can help make working on a jobsite better each day.
Here’s a top-ten list of jobsite tools Vermeer sees when they are out visiting customers.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) — Your personal health and safety is the top priority every day you’re working around utility equipment. A good pair of electrical hazard-rated safety boots, a safety vest, safety glasses, earplugs and a hard hat should all be on your list of essentials. And remember, invest in quality safety gear that is comfortable to wear. If you’re going to be handling or working around bentonite power or in other dusty conditions be sure to remember your respirator.
- Operator’s Manuals, safety briefings, and job checklists – It is critically important to understand the proper operation and safety procedures of the equipment and the jobsite. Make sure you understand the full operation of the equipment before you turn the key. Remember, the Operator’s Manual is in the box on the machine so refer to it when needed. Don’t expect a new piece of equipment to act just like the old one, it is important to know and follow jobsite procedures and policies.
- Knife or multi-tool — Is there a day that goes by that something doesn’t need to be cut? Not likely in this line of work. A good pocket knife is excellent for cutting bags of bentonite when you’re mixing mud in the morning, and a multi-tool with a small pliers can come in handy for grabbing little things that you just can’t get with your fingers.
- Compact, high-luminous flashlight — These powerful little lights are great for working at night, locating utilities in a pothole or looking under the hood of a machine.
- Pen and paper — This is a top-pocket-of-the-safety-vest kind of jobsite accessory, especially if you’re running the drill head tracker, so you can jot down rod-by-rod drilling information. Of course, it’s essential to have a pen and paper to write down notes to share with the foreman or inspector.
- Walkie-talkies or two-way radios — Communication is critical on the jobsite, and to do it as efficiently as possible, everyone needs to have a way to communicate effectively with everyone else.
- First aid kit — Sure, you likely aren’t going to carry this in your pocket, but you’d better make sure you have a first aid kit close by and well stocked. Keeping a first aid kit in every vehicle is a good policy to follow.
- Utility uniform color code identification card — This one is for all of the new crew members, and everyone was the new person at one point or another. It’s crucial that everyone knows which flag and paint colors represent which utilities. So until you and everyone else on the crew has them all memorized, carrying a small card around in your wallet is helpful. You can download one right here: https://www3.apwa.net/content/library/colorcc.pdf.
- Drill head super- or multi-tool — Different than the multi-tool listed above, this tool is used for maintaining your drill’s tooling. The Vermeer Armor® drilling system includes a lid punch, retention pin punch, cap screw tool and cleaning device.
- Gloves, rags and handkerchiefs — Keeping your hands protected and clean is essential for your safety and for having clean hands at lunchtime. In all seriousness, you need to protect your hands anytime you’re running a shovel or working with metal or wood. Likewise, rags should be kept on hand to wipe up anything greasy or oily that could cause someone to slip. Handkerchiefs have all kinds of uses, including wiping that sweaty brow or dirty face.
Bonus item: Your favorite Vermeer cap — After the work is done for the day and it’s time to grab dinner, you’ll want to make sure your favorite cap is handy to cover up that hat hair and sweat left by your hard hat and a hard day’s work.
Let us know what’s on your everyday carry list over at the Vermeer Underground Facebook page.
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