Field scenario: The quote says “clear back fence line.” During the walk you find septic lids, old t-posts, a low overhead communication line, and a dead tree leaning toward the work zone.
Why this matters
Hidden hazards are what turn normal production into broken equipment, property damage, or a claim.
Pass standard
A different operator could arrive later and understand what must be avoided before starting the machine.
- Utilities: overhead power/communication lines, guide wires, meters, gas risers, septic lids, and water access points. Maintain required clearance and never drive heavy equipment over septic fields.
- Terrain: sudden drops, creek beds, sinkholes, rock ledges, hidden stumps, soft ground, and slopes above normal CTL comfort.
- Foreign objects: barbed wire, t-posts, tires, chains, scrap, glass, rocks, and old fence. Remove what can be removed and flag what cannot.
- Environmental hazards: widowmakers, hornets/wasps, protected areas, wetland boundaries, and trees that must be preserved.
- Upload photos and notes to Jobber before unchaining. If it is not documented, it did not happen when the dispute shows up later.
Operator checkpoints
Utilities photographedSeptic markedMetal removed/flaggedSlope notedWidowmakers markedJobber checklist complete
Common mistakes
- Only walking the easy/open portion of the site.
- Not flagging septic, wire, or preserved trees physically.
- Relying on the customer’s memory instead of verifying.
Document in Jobber
- Utility/septic photos.
- Flagged metal/wire/foreign-object photos.
- Slope, widowmaker, insect, wet-area, and preserved-boundary notes.
Field standard: The machine should never discover a hazard before the operator does.