Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations – Risk Assessment

The person who is using this Risk Assessment must add/remove hazards/control measures to ensure that it is made site specific
Activity Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations Site/Location Risk Assessment No.
Person Completing Form Kevin Morris Job Title Appointed Person Date
Review Date August 2015 Reviewed By Kevin Morris Next Review Date February 2016
Persons at Risk MWH Employee Client’s Employee Other’s Employee Member of Public
Initial Risk Level (of the hazard, before implementing all of the Control Measures and Actions)
Potential Severity of Harm (A) 3 Likelihood of Harm Occurring (B) 3 Initial Risk Level (A x B) 9

Action Action
Action
Hazard Control Measures Additional Control Measures Target Complete
By
Date (Initial)

 Regulation 8 of LOLER requires lifting operations

 Only Authorised certified, trained operators to use
Overturning of to be properly planned, appropriately supervised
equipment.
and carried out in a safe manner, and this
equipment. includes lifting by earth moving machinery.
 Checks to be made on operator’s certification (CPCS).
 A lift plan shall be used and communicated to all
persons affected by the operation.
 When using 180 degrees machine the bucket must be
lowered to the ground and hydraulic feet used when
Persons struck by operating the backhoe.  Before lifting operations begin it is essential that
machine. all personnel involved are fully briefed on the
significant findings of the risk assessment, the
 When using 360 degrees machine at least 600mm
method statement and their individual roles in
clearance to be allowed for tail swing.
carrying out the task. Flashing beacons shall be
used on the excavator
Restriction of  360 visual aids such as mirrors and / or cameras shall be
Operators vision. used on the excavator, No persons to stand or work  All excavators that have quick hitches attached
within operating radius without operator’s permission, are subject to further Risk assessments and
crossing the path of the excavator shall only be carried operator checks after each change of hitch.
out with the operators say so and when the excavator is
in a safe position.

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 Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

Action Action
Action
Hazard Control Measures Additional Control Measures Target Complete
By
Date (Initial)

 Loads must not be slewed over personnel, vehicle

cabins or huts/offices.

Restriction of  A traffic marshal or banks-man must be used where

driver’s vision is impaired or operating in congested
Operators vision. areas.

 All operatives to wear high-visibility clothing in work area.

 No passengers to be carried unless the vehicle is

designed to do so.
Materials may
fall from machine  Demobilise plant when not in use.
during lifting
operation.  Do not lift or lower loads into excavations without stop
blocks or a signaller.

 Seat belts should always be worn.

 Daily plant inspections will be completed.  The slinger or operator should check the lifting
accessories, including the lifting point, before use
to ensure they are not damaged or worn.
 Weekly Inspections will be completed and recorded on
Defective equipment. the appropriate documentation.
 Any defective lifting accessories should be
removed from service immediately.
 Excavators need to be thoroughly examined every 12
months.

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 Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

Action Action
Action
Hazard Control Measures Additional Control Measures Target Complete
By
Date (Initial)
 Chain slings should not have any distorted links
or components, hooks should not be bent and
the safety clip should be in working condition.
 Report all defects to the supervisor.

 Fibre slings should be rejected when damaged,

 All lifting chains, slings and shackles, d-links to be tested and in any case when the outer covering is worn
Defective equipment and examined every 6 months. to the extent that the inner cores are visible.

 Only use excavators with marked Safe Working  All excavators, backhoes and front end loaders
Load; require pre-use checks, inspections and
maintenance to ensure that they do not
deteriorate to an extent where the operator or
other persons are put at significant risk.
Plant and equipment shall not be allowed within:
Contact with  15 metres of overhead lines suspended from steel
towers  See HSE publication GS6 Avoidance of danger
overhead services
 9 metres of overhead lines suspended from wooden from overhead electric lines.
causing poles
electrocution. If work requires being closer than stated above power to be
isolated or rerouted (consult with owner/supplier).
Additional guidance:
 Only use excavators with marked Safe Working
Load.
Lifting loads in BS EN 474-1:2006, Earth-moving machinery. Safety
excess of the safe  Any earth-moving machine designed for object - Part 1: General requirements.
handling shall have a rated object handling
working load (SWL)
capacity table available inside the cab. If a rated BS EN 474-3:2006, Earth-moving machinery. Safety
causing excavator to object handling capacity table is not available then - Part 3: Requirements for loaders.
turn over or the machine should not be used for object
equipment failure. handling. BS EN 474-4:2006, Earth-moving machinery. Safety
- Part 4: Requirements for backhoe loaders.

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 Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

Action Action
Action
Hazard Control Measures Additional Control Measures Target Complete
By
Date (Initial)

 An earth-moving machine used for lifting operations
must be fitted with a lifting eye and have a
certificate of incorporation,
BS EN 474-5:2006, Earth-moving machinery. Safety
- Part 5: Requirements for hydraulic excavators.
BS 7121-1:2006, Code of practice for safe use of
cranes — Part 1: General.

 If the rated lifting capacity for an excavator or the
backhoe portion of a backhoe-loader is greater
than one tonne then the machine must be fitted
Lifting loads in with check valves in accordance with the
excess of the safe requirements of ISO 8643:1997.
working load (SWL)
causing excavator to  All excavators that are used for lifting must have a
turn over or rated capacity indicator (RCI), which is an acoustic
or visual warning device which indicates to the
equipment failure. operator when the object handling capacity or
corresponding load moment is reached.
 Operators manual shall be kept in the cab.
BS 7121-3:2000, Code of practice for safe use of
cranes — Part 3: Mobile cranes.
ISO 8643:1997, Safety of earth-moving machinery.
Specification for hydraulic excavator and backhoe
loader boom lowering control device.
ISO 10567:1992, Safety of earth-moving machinery.
Methods for the calculation and verification of the lift
capacity of hydraulic excavators.
LOLER, Safe Use of Lifting Equipment – Lifting
Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 –
Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. HSE
Books L113.

 Operator and persons involved with the lifting operation PUWER, Safe Use of Work Equipment – Provision
must be aware of the weights to be lifted and the risk and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 –
involved. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. .

Lifting Operations: An explanation of LOLER, 2006.

Construction Industry Press.

Excavation collapse
 Excavator must not be positioned directly alongside
causing crushing of unsupported excavations.
personnel.

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 Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

Action Action
Action
Hazard Control Measures Additional Control Measures Target Complete
By
Date (Initial)

 Excavator operators and slinger signallers should be

made aware of these dangers and effective
Slinger in danger communications must always be maintained between
slinger signaller and operator.
area of load in order
to hook load.  The excavator operator should always make use of the
safety lever (safety armrest) whenever the slinger is in
the danger area.

Presence of
personnel adjacent to  Use traffic marshal or banks-man when travelling with a
load.
the machine’s travel
path
Residual Risk Level (after implementing all of the Control Measures and Actions)
Potential Severity of Harm (A) 1 Likelihood of Harm Occurring (B) 2 Residual Risk Level (A x B) 2

Potential Severity of Harm (A) Residual Risk Level Actions

Slightly Harmful 1 Harmful 2 Extremely Harmful 3 Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

Highly Unlikely Low Risk Low Risk Medium Risk DO NOT PROCEED
1 1 2 3 Without Referring
Proceed with Reduce Risks
to Your Manager
Unlikely Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk Activity Further ALARP
Likelihood of Harm Occurring(B) First
2 2 4 6 under controlled (Method
(Method
Likely Medium Risk High Risk High Risk measures above Statements)
Statements
3 3 6 9 Permits to work)

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 Use of Excavators for Lifting Operations

This Risk Assessment must be communicated to those who are carrying out the task the method of communication should be should be recorded in the boxes below

The above Risk assessment has been briefed to those individuals detailed below and they understand the requirements of the Risk assessment.

Name Signature Company Date

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