Motor Graders

Motor graders shape roads, pads, ditches and parking lots with a long blade (the moldboard) under the middle of the machine. They travel back and forth over the same area all day, often in reverse. Grade checkers and laborers work close to them, often in the operator’s blind spots, and many grader jobs are next to live traffic.

• Construction
• Road Work

Hazards

• Struck by the grader, especially while it reverses repeatedly over the same pass
• The blade, which can be angled and side-shifted well beyond the tires, and the front-mounted ripper or scarifier
• Articulated frame pinch points between the front and rear frames
• Rollover on slopes, road shoulders, ditch banks and soft edges
• Passing traffic on road jobs
• Falls getting on and off a tall machine

Pre-shift check

• Walk around and under the machine for people, leaks and damage
• Tires inflated and undamaged; tandem drive and wheel lean working
• Blade, cutting edges, circle and ripper pins secure
• Mirrors, cameras and windows clean
• Seatbelt, horn, lights, backup alarm and brakes working
• Steps and grab handles clean

Safe practices for operators

• Wear the seatbelt. Graders roll on shoulders and ditch slopes.
• Use mirrors and cameras, sound the horn before moving, and check behind before every reverse pass.
• Keep track of where the grade checkers are. If you lose sight of someone, stop.
• Keep the blade low when traveling and lower it to the ground when parked.
• Slow down on slopes and near edges; keep the blade ready to lower for stability.
• Use GPS or laser grade control where possible to reduce the need for workers on foot.

Safe practices for grade checkers and laborers

• Wear high-visibility clothing.
• Stay where the operator can see you, and agree on hand signals or radio calls before work starts.
• Never walk behind a grader. It may reverse at any time.
• Never stand between the blade and the machine, or near the articulation joint.
• Step well away before the grader turns or reverses.
• Watch for other equipment working the same area, such as rollers and water trucks.

Working next to traffic

Grading shoulders and roadways puts the machine and workers next to moving vehicles. Use a proper traffic control plan, cones and signs, and flaggers where needed. The grader may straddle the lane line, so motorists need clear warning. See Highway Work Zones.

Maintenance

• Install the articulation lock before working near the frame joint.
• Lower the blade and ripper to the ground, or block them, before working under them.
• Follow lockout procedures. Changing cutting edges is heavy, sharp work, so use lifting aids and gloves.

Last updated: October 1, 2026