14 April 2021

This safety alert highlights the serious health and safety risks involved when operating excavators.

What happened?

In the last 18 months we have been notified of five excavator tip-overs on mine sites. There was no loss of life but all incidents could have resulted in a fatality.

Excavators are commonly used on mining and quarrying sites and effective controls around their use are critical for operator safety.

Multiple factors resulted in the incidents, but machines operating in unsafe areas was common in all incidents.

What can be learnt from the incidents?

Operators must not be put into a position in which there is a high risk of tip-over. Safety rules should be constantly followed to ensure, for example, that:

• the site operator must have systems to ensure work is planned and operating areas asessed prior to work by the supervisor and machine operator
• digger operators do a dynamic risk assessment before starting each job
• the safest route is selected when moving and excavator around the site
• there is never digging underneath an excavator
• work is always carried out a safe distance from the edge of a face
• Standard Operating Procedures should be written where possible
• work areas are designed to control the hazards
• roll-over protection is fitted to all cabs including excavators, and ensure operators wear seat belts and keep doors closed
• there are always two exits from the excavator.

Where can you find information on the safe use of excavators?

Information on safe use of excavators can be found in our good practice guidelines: Health and safety at opencast mines, alluvial mines and quarries

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