When people think of safety on a jobsite, they often think of safety glasses, hard hats and caution signs–and rightfully so. It is important to remember the condition of your machinery is paramount to keeping your crew safe.

From bulldozers to cranes, numerous machines help get a project done. In addition to keeping your team out of harm’s way, machinery is a significant expense. You want your equipment operating at peak performance. If you don’t correctly take care of the equipment, you could experience the last thing anyone wants–project delays. You can make small changes on your jobsite when choosing your oil to ultimately create a safer environment for the entire team.

API Requirements

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the leading national trade association that represents all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry.
API’s certification marks identify quality motor oils for gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. Oil products displaying these marks meet performance requirements set by U.S. and international vehicle and engine manufacturers and the lubricant industry. Hundreds of companies worldwide participate in the voluntary program, which is backed by a marketplace sampling and testing program.

Utilizing an oil that not only meets API requirements but exceeds these requirements will allow your equipment to operate as expected. This will help minimize unforeseen breakdowns that may impact the operator’s safety.

Correct Product Choice

A lubricant is as a substance, such as an oil or grease, used to minimize friction, especially in an engine or component. Ensuring you utilize the correct lubricant in the right application on heavy pieces of construction equipment can minimize a failure that can create an accident.

While some may think it could be easier to buy one oil or grease product company-wide and use it across machinery, oils and greases are specifically formulated for environments and machine types.

A jobsite in northern Wisconsin should perhaps not use the same products as a site in southern Florida. In the long run, you’ll save time, money and safety by choosing products that are formulated for the machine and construction conditions.

Proactive Oil Sample Program

Establishing an oil sample program helps maximize equipment’s lifespan by monitoring performance; and, using those insights to inform better maintenance decisions. In order for the program to provide a machine’s current and future state, samples should be taken consistently and track the exact hours/miles in which the piece of equipment is tested. While this may take time and effort from your team, it provides a company proactive approach to equipment maintenance and performance.

This process also increases the likelihood that equipment will perform at optimum levels. This will help prevent untimely breakdowns, which could potentially cause operator injury or injury to a fellow jobsite worker.