Wheel loader questions

[Kernopelli]

I just got a new position at work. I have been a correctional officer for the past 11 yrs. and recently transferred to our boiler house and finished my training as a stationary fireman. Since we fire our boilers with coal, we have an '08 model Komatsu WA200 loader to work our coal yard, fill the coal pit, etc with. It is an absolute Cadillac compared to my tractor (or anything else I've ever operated for that matter) but my question is mostly about stability. My past experience is with running small equipment no larger than a Case 580 but mostly compact tractors and skid steers, never anything articulated or this size. I have always been taught to carry a load as close to the ground as possible and want to know any rules of thumb about this type of loader. I often see the other operators run around the yard with a loaded bucket ( 2.5-3 yds. of stoker coal) high in the air (8-12 ft.) and making sharp turns or across uneven ground. When I turn this thing on anything other than level ground and the bucket more than 3-4 feet high, my "pucker gauge" goes off. Everyone tells me it is more than stable in any position or circumstance within the yard and there's no need to creep around. Is it me or are my concerns valid?
That may sound ridiculous to the operators on the forum...but I am new to this type of machine and would hate to roll our new baby. Truthfully, more important than that, when working a shift alone, I would hate to melt or blow the boiler because I was away from the controls too long because I was being overly cautious and it took me a half hour to move a little coal around.

 

[DanD78]

It sounds like you have more common sense than most when it comes to operating machinery. Has anyone ever sat down and read the safety section of the operators manual? I know there are training videos on the proper way to operate powered industrial equipment. We have Cat loaders and fork lifts all over our plant and no one operates a piece of powered equipment with out doing a daily inspection and you must have been trained on the equipment you will be operating. This would be a good topic to bring forward with your safety group. I know in Illinois, documented annual operator training and daily equipment inspections are required by OSHA. The company that sold you the machine should be able to conduct on site operator training to meet this requirement. As you get more comfortable operating the machine in the proper manner, you will increase your confidence and speed as well as being a safe operator.

You don't want to be explaining how your shinny new loader ended up on it's side.

Dan