Excavators are used:-
· Digging of trenches, holes, foundations
· Material handling
· Brush cutting with hydraulic attachments
· Forestry work
· Forestry mulching
· Demolition
· General grading/landscaping
· Heavy lift, e.g. lifting and placing of pipes
· Mining, especially, but not only open-pit mining
· River dredging
· Driving piles, in conjunction with a pile driver
· Digging of trenches, holes, foundations
· Material handling
· Brush cutting with hydraulic attachments
· Forestry work
· Forestry mulching
· Demolition
· General grading/landscaping
· Heavy lift, e.g. lifting and placing of pipes
· Mining, especially, but not only open-pit mining
· River dredging
· Driving piles, in conjunction with a pile driver
Excavator hazards
Most fatal and serious
injuries involving excavators occur when the excavator is:
Moving – and strikes a pedestrian, particularly while reversing;
Slewing – trapping a person between the excavator and a fixed structure or vehicle; or
Working – when the moving bucket or other attachment strikes a pedestrian or when the bucket inadvertently falls from the excavator.
Moving – and strikes a pedestrian, particularly while reversing;
Slewing – trapping a person between the excavator and a fixed structure or vehicle; or
Working – when the moving bucket or other attachment strikes a pedestrian or when the bucket inadvertently falls from the excavator.
Controlling the risk
Clearance: When slewing in a confined area the selection of plant with minimal tail swing is preferred. Clearance of over 0.5m needs to be maintained between any part of the machine, particularly the ballast weight, and the nearest obstruction.
Visibility: Excavators with the best view around them directly from the driver position should be selected. Excavators should be equipped with adequate visibility aids to ensure drivers can see areas where people may be at risk from the operation of the machine.
Signaler (flagman): A signaler should be provided in a safe position to direct excavator operation and any pedestrian movements.
Bucket attachment: Quick hitches can be used to secure buckets to the excavator arm. Check that you are able to implement and manage any quick hitch used. A number of deaths have occurred in recent years when the bucket has fallen from the machine.
Training and competence
Inspection and maintenance
It is important to select the right excavator for the job. There
are five main precautions needed to control excavator hazards. These are:
Exclusion: People should be kept away from areas of excavator operation by the provision of suitable barriers. Most excavator related deaths involve a person working in the vicinity of the excavator rather than the driver. Bunting or fencing can be used to create and maintain a pedestrian exclusion area.
Exclusion: People should be kept away from areas of excavator operation by the provision of suitable barriers. Most excavator related deaths involve a person working in the vicinity of the excavator rather than the driver. Bunting or fencing can be used to create and maintain a pedestrian exclusion area.
Clearance: When slewing in a confined area the selection of plant with minimal tail swing is preferred. Clearance of over 0.5m needs to be maintained between any part of the machine, particularly the ballast weight, and the nearest obstruction.
Visibility: Excavators with the best view around them directly from the driver position should be selected. Excavators should be equipped with adequate visibility aids to ensure drivers can see areas where people may be at risk from the operation of the machine.
Signaler (flagman): A signaler should be provided in a safe position to direct excavator operation and any pedestrian movements.
Bucket attachment: Quick hitches can be used to secure buckets to the excavator arm. Check that you are able to implement and manage any quick hitch used. A number of deaths have occurred in recent years when the bucket has fallen from the machine.
Training and competence
Inspection and maintenance