Corporate Training | Consultancy | Human Skills Development

Reg: 2016/192319/07

eXcaVator

student manual
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Dump Truck Training
This module will guide you on the basic operations of a Dump Truck machine. In order for you to
be certified as competent you must demonstrate adequate knowledge on the principles of
operating a Dump Truck.

1. introduction to safety in the Work place

1. responsibilities (from the mine health and safety act)

2. the employer or manager must, inter alia –

- ensure a healthy and safe work environment for employees,
- ensure that employees are trained to deal with the health and safety risks
associated with their work,
- provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), free of charge.

3. the employee must –

- take care to protect his own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of other
persons who may be affected by what he does,
- use and take proper care of PPE and other safety facilities and equipment provided,
- comply with prescribed health and safety measures.
definitions
When learning new subjects, one needs to become familiar with certain words and their meanings.
The meaning of certain words and phrases used in these modules are described below

common terms
It is important to understand the following concepts:
1. safety: This means avoiding injury to yourself, your fellow workers and damage to equipment
and your tools.
2. assessment: This is the test which finds out whether you are able to achieve the
objective. The test will be given by a Training Officer and should only test what is asked
in the objective.
3. Accident: An accident is an undesired event, often caused by
-unsafe acts of persons, and/or
-unsafe conditions in the work place,

which may result in

-physical harm (injury, death, negative influence on health),

-damage to tools, equipment or property,
-loss of production.
2.Basic causes of accidents
1. unsafe acts
The following are considered to be unsafe acts in the work place and must be avoided:
.1 Working at unsafe speeds and taking short cuts.
2. Doing jobs that you are untrained for and not authorised to do.
3. Working without guards on machinery, i.e. not replacing or fitting guards on moving machinery where there
is a risk of being caught or where other injury may result.
4. Failure to secure machinery or material.
5. Making adjustments to machines without switching it off and waiting for it to become stationary.
6. Touching moving parts of machinery.
7. Not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when required by the job to do so.
8. Not obeying safety signs in the work place (e.g. smoking where it is prohibited).
9. Horse play in the work place (e.g. pushing or shoving fellow employees).

2. unsafe conditions
The following unsafe conditions in the work place must be recognised and corrected:

1. Lack of machine guards.

2. Unsafe construction (e.g. scaffolds, material stacks, etc.).
3. Unguarded holes or walkways.
4. Badly marked or unmarked exits and walkways.
5. Poor ventilation, lighting and high noise levels.
6. Dangerous chemicals that are not safely stored and marked.
7. Lack or unavailability of sufficient and appropriate fire fighting equipment.
8. Lack or unavailability of appropriate PPE.
9. Inadequate lighting.
10. Overcrowding in the workplace.

3. housekeeping and hygiene

1.1 Housekeeping means “a place for everything and everything in its place”.
1.2 Good housekeeping improves the work environment and working conditions because:
• Injuries are avoided when gangways and walkways are kept clear of superfluous
material.
• It cuts down time spent looking for tools, goods and material.
• Space is saved when everything is stacked away tidily.
• Fire hazards are reduced because combustible materials are kept in proper receptacles.

elements of good housekeeping

10. Mark out passages, aisles and roadways clearly and keep them clear.
11. Clean up oil spills immediately to prevent slipping.
12. Provide facilities for proper storage of tools, equipment and material.
13. Provide bins for waste, and mark it clearly.
14. Put up safety notices and signs.
15. Introduce colour coding.
16. Enforce rules.
17. Use check-lists to make regular inspections.
typical accidents arising from poor housekeeping

3.1 People tripping over loose objects on floor and in work area.
3.2 Slipping and falling on greasy, wet and dirty floors.
3.3 Articles and material dropping from above.
3.4 Hands or other parts of body cut on projecting nails, wire, steel strapping, etc.
3.5 Bumping against poorly stacked or badly placed material or objects.
3.6 Fires (e.g. spontaneous combustion of oil rags).

4. good hygiene
4.1 Put litter in bins.
4.2 Keep lockers and change rooms clean.
4.3 Maintain high levels of personal hygiene to prevent skin disease and the ingestion
(swallowing) of hazardous chemical and biological substances (germs, bacteria, etc.), in the
following way:

• Do not eat or store food and drink in work areas.

• Keep your skin and work clothing clean.
• Wash hands before eating and after using the toilet.
personal protective clothing and equipment
(ppe)
Personal ProtectiVe equipment or PPe is tHe primary control measure, wHere engineering
controls are passiVe control measures. WhEN usiNg PERsONAl PROTECTiVE equipmENT, ThE hAzARds ARE
sTill pREsENT iN ThE ENViRONmENT. ThE pROTECTiVE dEViCE mEREly pROVidEs A bARRiER bETwEEN ThE hAzARd
ANd ThE wORkER. ThE pERsONAl pROTECTiVE EquipmENT suppliEd TO yOu is fOR yOuR pERsONAl sAfETy ANd
shOuld bE usEd by yOu ONly. IT is ThE REspONsibiliTy Of ThE wORkERs TO lOOk AfTER ThE sAfETy EquipmENT
pROVidEd ANd TO usE iT whERE REquiREd TO by sAfETy sigNs, ANd mANAgEmENT RuliNg. IT is yOuR
REspONsibiliTy TO REpORT ANy dEfECTs Of yOuR sAfETy EquipmENT TO yOuR supERVisOR immEdiATEly. By lAw
NO pERsON will bE AllOwEd TO mOVE AROuNd ON siTE OR dO ANy wORk wiThOuT ThE CORRECT PPe

Body Protection Foot Protection

PlANT OpERATORs musT wEAR SAfETy bOOTs AffORd gOOd pROTECTiON:
OVERAlls whEN CARRyiNg OuT 1. AgAiNsT fAlliNg ObjECTs
ThEiR siTE ACTiViTiEs. 2. AgAiNsT ThE hAzARds Of ACCidENTAlly
ThE OVERAll mAy bE A TwO-piECE kiCkiNg shARp ObjECTs
OVERAll OR A ONE piECE. ThE 3. ThEy musT bE wORN AT All TimEs
TwO-piECE OVERAll is usuAlly
preferred

head Protection eye Protection

ShiEld ThE wEARER's hEAd fROm SAfETy glAssEs ANd fACE shiElds musT bE wORN AT All TimEs
ThE impACT ANd pENETRATiON Of whEN wORkiNg wiTh TOOls ThAT COuld CAusE pARTiClEs TO
fAlliNg ObjECTs OR flying particles shOOT iNTO yOuR EyEs. eyE pROTECTiON is usEd fOR
pROTECTiON AgAiNsT:
1 AiR bORNE dusT, sANd, ETC.
2 FlyiNg ObjECTs

hand Protection
ear Protection
1. Ear protection is GlOVEs OR OThER hANd pROTECTiON shOuld
divided into two parts bE CApAblE Of giViNg pROTECTiON:
2. Ear inserts and ear 1. FROm idENTifiEd hAzARds
muffs 2. FiT ThE usER‟s hANds COmfORTAbly
IT is ViTAl TO pROTECT ThE hANds fROm
ANy EXTERNAl AgENTs, i.E., ChEmiCAl,
physiCAl OR RAdiATiON

earmuFFs
1. MAkE suRE ThAT ThE EARmuffs COVER yOuR
EARs
2. MAkE suRE ThAT ThEy siT COmfORTAbly
OVER yOuR EARs

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PRE –USE INSECTION CHECKLIST
Company Name Date: Start Time: am/pm
Operator: Evaluation:
Location Machine Type:
Status: Status:
1. Pre Start-up Walk Around OK NO N/A 2. Start-up Status OK NO N/A
Safe Area / Equipment Secured Seat belt Inspected and Fastened
Wheels & tires Engine Sounds Normal
Cab  Instrument Panel Indicators
Glass  Oil Pressure
Doors  Coolant Temperature
Emergency Exit Hour Meter
Counterweight 3. Powered Systems OK NO N/A
ROPS / FOPS Lights
Lights  Horn
Mirrors Wipers
Leaks  Fan / Heater / Air Conditioner
Engine Compartment Radio / Accessories
Belts / Hoses Hydraulic Controls
Radiators / Coolers Driver
Fire Suppression System Steer
Forks  Boom
Articulation Joints Dipper / Stick
Fluid level Work Attachment
Pins Accessories
Hydraulics
Leaks  4. General OK NO N/A
Fluid level Housekeeping
Cylinders Fire Extinguisher
Fittings Manufacturer’s Manual
Hoses  Log Book
Fittings Decals / Warnings / Placards
Pins / Locks Certification / Capacity Labels
Undercarriage Level Indicator
Track Shoes / Wheels & Tires 5. Other OK NO N/A
Rollers
Sprockets 
Idler Wheels
Track Links
Turntables / Slewing Assembly Report ANY problem to your Supervisor
Comments:

Operator’s Signature:

NB: This is a template, each company has its own specific design
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introduction
ThE eXCAVATOR is A VERsATilE mAChiNE CApAblE Of pERfORmiNg mANy TAsks AROuNd ThE
wORksiTE. IT’s idEAl fOR:
1. eXcaVating
2. Digging DitcHes
3. Digging trencHes
4. LeVeling
5. Loading trucKs
6. LiFting Loads

Basic components
ThEsE ARE ThE kEy COmpONENTs Of AN EXCAVATOR ThAT yOu will NEEd TO kNOw:
A BuCkET
B BuCkET LiNk
C BuCkET HydRAuliC CyliNdER
D STiCk
e STiCk HydRAuliC CyliNdER E
F BOOm HydRAuliC CyliNdER D F
G  OVERhEAd GuARd G
H  COuNTERwEighT
I TRACks
J  BOOm H
K  OpERATOR COmpARTmENT

C J
B
I
A
K

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gauges and Warning devices
Gauges are Fitted onto macHines to Keep us in toucH and well inFormed at all times oF wHat is
Happening in diFFerent sections oF our macHine. WiThOuT ThEsE gAugEs, wE wOuld EiThER hAVE TO sTOp
ANd ChECk ThE diffERENT mAChiNEs fROm TimE TO TimE, OR TAkE A ChANCE ANd ONly bE mAdE AwARE Of
pOTENTiAl pROblEms ONCE iT is TOO lATE TO RECTify ThEm. WE fiNd All TypEs Of gAugEs whiCh All giVE us
diffERENT iNfORmATiON. WE gET...
1. temperature gauges
2. pressure gauges
3. Fuel tanK leVel gauges
4. electrical system cHarging gauges
5. Hour meter gauges
6. etc.
All ThEsE gAugEs ARE ThERE TO AssisT us wiTh ThE CARE ANd CORRECT usE Of OuR mAChiNE

temperature Gauges
ThE fuNCTiON Of A TEmpERATuRE gAugE is TO mEAsuRE ThE TEmpERATuRE Of ThE Oil OR wATER iN A spECifiC
COmpONENT ANd wARN ThE OpERATOR if ThERE is A pROblEm.
TEmpERATuRE gAugEs usuAlly hAVE ThREE COlOuRs ON ThE iNdiCATiON sECTiON, ANd A NEEdlE whiCh pOiNTs TO
ThE RElATiVE COlOuR. ThE COlOuRs ARE usuAlly:
1. wHite
2. green
3. red

ThE whIte sECTiON iNdiCATEs ThE TEmpERATuRE iT is mONiTORiNg, is sTill wARmiNg up ANd hAs NOT yET
REAChEd ThE CORRECT OpERATiNg TEmpERATuRE
ThE GReeN sECTiON iNdiCATEs ThAT ThE TEmpERATuRE hAs REAChEd ThE CORRECT OpERATiNg RANgE ANd iT is sAfE
TO OpERATE AT All TimEs whilE ThE NEEdlE is pOiNTiNg iN ThE gREEN RANgE Of ThE gAugE
ThE ReD sECTiON iNdiCATEs ThAT ThERE is A pROblEm ANd OVERhEATiNg is OCCuRRiNg ANd ThE mAChiNE shOuld
bE bROughT TO A sAfE ANd gRAduAl sTOp, iN A sAfE spOT, ANd swiTChEd Off uNTil ThE TEmpERATuRE hAs
dECREAsEd suffiCiENTly TO sTART ThE ENgiNE AgAiN OR iNVEsTigATE ThE CAusE Of ThE OVER hEATiNg

SOmETimEs COlOuRs ARE NOT usEd, buT ACTuAl figuREs suCh As 400 OR 700. WE gET TEmpERATuRE gAugEs ThAT
mONiTOR...

1. engine water or coolant temperature

2. transmission oil temperature
3. hydraulic oil temperature

electrical System cHarging Gauges

THe Function oF tHe electrical system cHarging gauge is to indicate wHetHer tHe alternator
system is cHarging and Keeping tHe battery Fully cHarged at all times

1. ThE gAugE NEEdlE pOiNTs TO ThE CENTRE Of ThE gAugE whEN ThE ElECTRiCAl sysTEm is NOT bEiNg
ChARgEd OR disChARgEd
2. As ThE sysTEm ChARgEs ThE NEEdlE mOVEs RighT TOwARds ThE "+"
3. As ThE sysTEm disChARgEs iT mOVEs lEfT TOwARds ThE "-".

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Pressure Gauges
tHe Function oF a pressure gauge is to measure tHe pressure in a speciFic system, sucH as:
1. tHe air braKe system
2. tHe Hydraulic system
3. tHe transmission system
4. etc

ANd shOuld ThE pREssuRE bECOmE TOO high OR dROp TOO lOw, ThE gAugE will REgisTER ThE pREssuRE ANd
ThE plANT OpERATOR will bE AblE TO sEE ThAT A pROblEm hAs OCCuRREd ANd TAkE ThE AppROpRiATE CORRECTiVE
ACTiON. PREssuRE gAugEs likE TEmpERATuRE gAugEs usuAlly hAVE ThE sAmE ThREE COlOuRs:
1. wHite
2. green
3. red

ONCE AgAiN ThE whIte iNdiCATEs ThE OpERATiNg pREssuRE hAs NOT yET bEEN REAChEd ANd mAy bE TOO
lOw TO sAfEly OpERATE A sysTEm

ThE GReeN iNdiCATEs ThE OpERATiNg pREssuRE is CORRECT As lONg As ThE iNdiCATiNg NEEdlE OR pOiNTER
sTAys iN ThE gREEN RANgE

ThE ReD iNdiCATEs ThAT A pROblEm hAs OCCuRREd, ThAT ThE pREssuRE is TO high ANd ThE mAChiNE shOuld
bE bROughT TO A sAfE sTOp ANd ThE pROblEm iNVEsTigATEd

ONCE AgAiN COlOuRs ARE NOT AlwAys usEd ANd wE mAy fiNd OThER mEThOds Of iNdiCATiNg ThE pREssuREs.
WE gET pREssuRE gAugEs ThAT mONiTOR…
1. low engine oil pressure
2. low transmission oil pressure
3. low braKe pressure

Fuel tanK LeVel Gauge

tHe Function oF tHe Fuel tanK leVel gauge indicates tHe leVel oF tHe diesel aVailable in tHe
macHines Fuel tanK. This ENAblEs us TO plAN AhEAd As TO whEThER wE CAN REACh OuR NEXT
dEsTiNATiON, whEThER wE NEEd TO CONsidER RETuRNiNg TO OuR bAsE CAmp fOR RE-fuElliNg puRpOsEs ANd
sO ON. ThE gAugE usuAlly iNdiCATEs
1. e For empty
2. F For Full.

ThERE ARE hOwEVER diffERENT TypEs Of gAugEs, sOmE Of whiCh iNdiCATE whEN yOu ARE OpERATiNg iN ThE
REsERVE sECTiON Of ThE TANk. OThERs hAVE A wARNiNg lighT ThAT COmEs ON ONCE ThE TANk REAChEs A pRE-
dETERmiNEd lEVEl ANd yOu shOuld CONsidER RE-fuElliNg. SOmE fuEl lEVEl gAugEs shOw ThE EsTimATEd
liTREs Of diEsEl lEfT iN ThE fuEl TANk

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hour Meter Gauge
tHe Function oF tHe Hour meter gauge is to record tHe number oF Hours a particular macHine
Has worKed.

tHere are diFFerent types oF Hour meters

1 eLectRIcAL hOuR mETER (OpERATEs Off ThE ElECTRiCAl sysTEm ONCE ThE igNiTiON is swiTChEd
ON
2 MechANIcAL hOuR mETER (OpERATEs whEN ThE ENgiNE is RuNNiNg)
3 VIBRAtIoN hOuR mETER (OpERATEs As ThE mAChiNE VibRATEs)

inspecting the eXcaVator

check the following:

• engine oil & coolant

• hydraulic fluid levels
• glass for dirt & damage
• transmission for smooth operation
• safety devices
• seat belt
• tires for condition & inflation
• lights, gauges, horn & alarms
• cab cleanliness
• all controls for proper labels
• Bent or damaged hydraulic cylinders
• Worn hinge pins & bushings
• damaged & leaking hydraulic lines
• smooth operation through all functions
• damaged or loose teeth on bucket
• Worn stick extension slide pads
• all welds for cracks

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operator awareness factors
SEVERAl fACTORs CAN AffECT ThE OpERATORs AbiliTy TO sTAy
fOCusEd ON OpERATiNg ThE mAChiNE.

Fatigue & hunger: FATiguE CAN REsulT fROm wORkiNg

TOO mANy hOuRs, lACk Of slEEp, huNgER OR mONOTONOus,
REpETiTiVE wORk. WhEN AN OpERATOR shOws sigNs Of
fATiguE, hE shOuld bE REliEVEd TO gET REsT OR EXERCisE TO
REfREsh his AlERTNEss.
fatigue & hunger weatHer: MANy lOAdER/bACkhOEs ARE OpEN TO ThE
ElEmENTs. AN OpERATOR NEEds TO dREss AppROpRiATEly
Weather: heat, cold fOR ThE wEAThER TO pREVENT sTREss ON his bOdy.

emotional leVel emotional LeVel: OpERATORs uNdER EmOTiONAl sTREss

mAy NOT bE AblE TO sTAy fOCusEd. IT mAy bE NECEssARy
physical health AT TimEs TO REmOVE suCh AN OpERATOR fROm A mAChiNE
uNTil EmOTiONAl EquilibRium is REsTOREd.
Working conditions PHysical healtH: OpERATORs suffERiNg fROm hEAlTh
pROblEms AffECTiNg ThEiR mAChiNE OpERATiNg AbiliTy
other people shOuld NOT bE AllOwEd ON A mAChiNE. eVEN wORkERs
TAkiNg COld mEdiCiNE mAy hAVE ThEiR AlERTNEss
COmpROmisEd.
worKing conditions: SOmE wORksiTEs ThAT hAVE
mANy ACTiViTiEs OCCuRRiNg simulTANEOusly CAN disTRACT
AN OpERATOR. HE musT bE AblE TO blOCk OuT suCh
disTRACTiONs whilE OpERATiNg A mAChiNE.
otHer People: PEOplE shOuld NOT ATTEmpT TO TAlk TO
OR iN ANy wAy disTRACT AN OpERATOR whO is OpERATiNg A
mAChiNE. WAiT uNTil hE is fiNishEd wiTh AN OpERATiON
bEfORE AppROAChiNg OR TAlkiNg TO him.

for safe operation

 never take anything for granted
 face the machine When climbing on and off
 keep the machine clean
 clean mud and grease from shoes
 avoid loose clothing and Jewelry
 Wear protective equipment
 never operate machine Without protective guards
 always check height, Width, and Weight restrictions
 keep all safety devices in place and Working order
 plan ahead
 learn Beforehand about the Work area

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ThE AbOVE is A lisT Of iTEms whiCh AffECT ThE sAfETy Of eXCAVATOR OpERATiONs. ThE mERiTs Of
EACh iTEm shOuld bE disCussEd ANd ClAss mEmbERs iNViTEd TO Add AddiTiONAl iTEms TO ThE lisT.
If ThERE ARE COmpANy pOliCiEs REgARdiNg ThE OpERATiON Of This mAChiNE, NOw is A gOOd TimE TO
disCuss ThOsE AlsO.

seat Belts
eXCAVATOR ARE EquippEd wiTh sEAT bElTs ANd whiCh shOuld
bE wORN AT All TimEs. ON ROugh TERRAiN, A sEAl bElT will kEEp
ThE OpERATOR iN his sEAT AllOwiNg him TO mAiNTAiN CONTROl Of
ThE mAChiNE. IN ThE EVENT Of A ROllOVER, A sEAT bElT will kEEp
ThE OpERATOR wiThiN ThE CONfiNEs Of ThE ROllOVER sTRuCTuRE.
inspected BEfORE OpERATiNg ThE mAChiNE EACh dAy, A OpERATOR is TO
each day iNspECT ThE sEAT bElT fOR dAmAgE ANd pROpER OpERATiON.

• must Be Worn When

operating the machine

climbing on and off the machine

WhEN mOuNTiNg OR dismOuNTiNg AN eXCAVATOR, ThE OpERATOR
shOuld AlwAys;
1. FACE ThE mAChiNE
2. Use tHe tHree point contact metHod. This mEThOd is
simply kEEpiNg TwO hANds ANd A fOOT OR ONE hANd ANd
TwO fEET iN CONTACT wiTh ThE mAChiNE whEN ClimbiNg.
By fOllOwiNg This mEThOd mANy slips ANd fAlls CAN bE
pREVENTEd.
3. AlsO, bEfORE ClimbiNg ONTO ThE mAChiNE, ThE OpERATOR
shOuld ChECk his fEET fOR mud OR gREAsE whiCh COuld
CAusE him TO lOOsE his fOOTiNg.
ThE mAChiNE shOuld AlwAys bE mOuNTEd usiNg ThE pROVidEd
sTEps ANd hANd hOlds. NEVER ATTEmpT TO mOuNT ThE mAChiNE
by ClimbiNg OVER ThE REAR Of iT. WhEN dismOuNTiNg ThE
mAChiNE, NEVER jump Off. SERiOus lEg, fOOT ANd ANklE
iNjuRiEs CAN REsulT fROm dOiNg sO.

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eXcaVator controls

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eXcaVator hazards

Before excavating,
determine the location
of all underground
utilities and other
buried hazards.

BEfORE ANy EXCAVATiNg wORk bEgiNs, ThE lOCATiON ANd TypE Of All buRiEd hAzARds
NEEds TO bE dETERmiNEd. UTiliTy COmpANiEs shOuld bE CONTACTEd fOR ThE lOCATiON Of
ThEiR buRiEd sERViCE liNEs, VAulTs OR OThER ObjECTs. IN sOmE AREAs iT mAy bE NECEssARy
TO CONTACT VARiOus AgENCiEs TO disCOVER This iNfORmATiON. IT mAy bE NEEdful TO ObTAiN
ThE sERViCE Of A COmpANy ThAT spECiAlizEs iN lOCATiNg ANd idENTifyiNg buRiEd ObjECTs.
WhEN ThE EXCAVATiON AppROAChEs A buRiEd ObjECT, hANd EXCAVATiNg shOuld bE dONE
TO AVOid ACCidENTAlly sTRikiNg ThE ObjECT wiTh ThE EXCAVATOR.

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eXcaVator hazards
load load

placing the stabilizer

pads or traveling to
close to the trench
walls can result in a
trench collapse. the
machine may fall into
the excavation.

side Wall
preVious failure
fill

TRENChEs ThAT ARE bEiNg EXCAVATEd iN pREViOusly fillEd AREAs ARE VERy susCEpTiblE TO wAll
COllApsE. WhEN TRAVEliNg, kEEp ThE mAChiNE pARAllEl TO ThE TRENCh ANd AVOid TRAVEliNg ClOsE
TO ThE EdgE.

general trench precautions

2 ft min.

• keep material & equipment a minimum of 2 ft from edge of excavation. greater distances may be
required based on soil stability.
• provide barricades or equivalent to prevent people from falling into trench.

MATERiAl EXCAVATEd fROm A TRENCh shOuld bE plACEd A miNimum Of TwO fEET fROm ThE EdgE
Of ThE TRENCh. This disTANCE mAy NEEd TO bE gREATER dEpENdiNg ON sOil TypE. ThE slOpE Of
ThE spOil pilE shOuld bE flAT ENOugh TO pREVENT mATERiAl fROm slidiNg iNTO ThE TRENCh.
AlsO NOTE iN ThE AbOVE piCTuRE ThAT ThERE ARE wORkERs iN ThE TRENCh wiThOuT AdEquATE
shiEldiNg OR shORiNg iN plACE.

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attaching the load

for buckets with lifting eyes located on

the back of the bucket, use a shackle to
attach the slings. Because of the sharp
edges, chain slings should be used.

WhEN dETERmiNiNg whERE TO ATTACh ThE lifTiNg sliNg(s) TO ThE buCkET, AN OpERATOR shOuld fiRsT
REfER TO ThE OpERATOR’s mANuAl. MOsT mANufACTuRERs sTATE whERE ThE lOAd shOuld bE ATTAChEd.
SOmE mANufACTuRERs hAVE iNCludEd A lifTiNg EyE OR ATTAChmENT pOiNT ON ThE buCkET. OThERs
hAVE dEsigNATEd hOlEs ON ThE buCkET liNkAgE As suiTAblE lifTiNg pOiNTs.
ONCE A lOAd is ATTAChEd TO A bACkhOE, ThE buCkET shOuld NOT bE mANipulATEd. DOiNg sO COuld
fOul OR dAmAgE ThE RiggiNg.

attaching the load to the Bucket

When attaching a chain for lifting on

buckets without lifting eyes, the chain
should be attached as shown in fig. a
and brought over the back of the bucket
as shown in fig. B. never make a lift
with a chain or sling attached solely
to the teeth.

fig. B
fig. a

FOR buCkETs whiCh dO NOT hAVE dEsigNATEd lifTiNg ATTAChmENT pOiNTs, A ChAiN CAN
bE ATTAChEd As shOwN iN ThE AbOVE figuREs. ThE bACkhOE buCkET NEEds TO bE
ROTATEd OuTwARd sO ThAT ThE TEETh pOiNT dOwNwARd AT All TimEs duRiNg ThE full RANgE
Of mOTiON Of ThE bOOm ANd ThE sTiCk. ThE ChAiN is ATTAChEd TO ThE buCkET As
shOwN iN figuRE A. ThE ChAiN ThEN is plACEd OVER ThE bACk Of ThE buCkET As
shOwN iN figuRE B. WhERE ThE ChAiN bENds OVER shARp EdgEs, blOCkiNg bETwEEN
ThE EdgE ANd ThE ChAiN shOuld bE usEd TO pREVENT dAmAgE TO ThE ChAiN. SuCh
dAmAgE COuld REsulT iN ChAiN fAiluRE.

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attaching the load to the Bucket

The operator’s manual for each machine includes a

section on load capacity for the loader bucket. On
some machines, lifting capacity is limited by the
capacity of the hydraulic system. Some buckets come
with lifting eyes welded to the back side. Chain slings
can be attached at these points and the chain run over
the front of the bucket. Blocking or some other form of
protection should be used to prevent the chain from
being damaged where it bends over sharp edges.
Slings should not be attached to the lifting arms of the
loader, or around any of the hydraulic lift cylinders.
If a load is moved by traveling the machine, it should be kept as low to the ground
as possible. This will help to maintain control of the load while traveling and allow
the load to be quickly lowered if it gets out of control. Always travel at the slowest
speed when traveling with a suspended load.

lifting objects

Various lifting hardware has been manufactured to

use for different lifting applications. All hardware
used for lifting must be load rated by the
manufacturer and used according to their instructions.
Prior to use, this hardware needs to be inspected by
a competent individual. When not in use, the
hardware should be stored to prevent damage and
deterioration due to weather.

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controlling Worksite access

Before excavating work begins, access to the worksite by unauthorized persons needs to
be controlled. Barriers of cone, barrels or other structures can establish the work area
perimeter. Caution tape, barricade safety fencing or other wellmarked material should be
placed between the vertical barriers to prevent people from accidentally entering the
work area.

Worksites need to have

proper barrier/barricades
to prevent unauthorized
personnel and vehicles
from entering the work
area.

special attachments
When using special attachments, operating instructions need to be
included with the operator’s manual.

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