- [Narrator] Whether you have an organized
pile sitting next to your keys,
or laying on the seat of your truck,
there are some items that can help make
working on a jobsite better every day.
Here's a top ten list of
jobsite tools that Vermeer
sees when they are out visiting customers.
Number one is your personal
protective equipment, or PPE.
Your personal health and safety
is a top priority every day
that you're working
around utility equipment.
A good pair of electrical
hazard-rated boots,
a safety vest,
safety glasses,
ear plugs and a hard hat should all
be on your list of essentials.
And remember, invest in quality safety
gear that's comfortable to wear.
Also, if you're going to
be handling or working
around bentonite powder, or
in other dusty conditions,
be sure to remember your respirator.
Number two is your operators manuals,
safety briefings, and job checklists.
So it's 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 operators manual's
in the box on the machine.
So refer to it when needed.
Number three is a knife or a 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
small pliers can come
in handy for grabbing little things
that you just can't get with your fingers.
Number four is a compact
high lumens flashlight.
These powerful little lights
are great for working at night,
locating utilities in a pothole,
or looking under the hood of a machine.
Number five is a good old pen and paper.
This is a top pocket of a safety
vest kind of job site accessory.
Especially if you're running
the drill head tractor
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 also.
Number six is walkie
talkie 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.
Number seven is a first-aid kit.
Sure, you likely aren't going
to carry this in your pocket.
But you 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.
Number eight is a utility uniform
color code identification card.
What a mouthful!
This one is for all the new
crew members, and let's be honest,
everyone was a 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 at APWA.net or you
can click on the link in the description.
Number nine is a drill
head super or multi-tool,
which is different than the
multi-tool we discussed earlier.
This tool is used for
maintaining your drill's tooling.
The Vermeer Armor® drilling
system includes a lid punch,
retention lid punch, cap screw
tool, and a cleaning device.
We happen to find this one in a museum.
Number 10 - gloves,
rags, and handkerchiefs.
So keeping your hands protected and clean
is essential for your
safety and of course,
for having clean hands at lunchtime.
In all seriousness, you
need to protect your hands.
So 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
kids of uses including
wiping a sweaty brow or dirty face.
Of course we have a 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 all 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.
