Safety Instructions

BEFORE OPERATING YOUR DIGGER

READ THESE SAFETY ISSUES

1

 There is a real risk of death or serious injury by incorrect use of this machine.
2 Your digger is an immensely powerful machine, never let people, especially children get near to you when working.
  a You have blind areas you cannot possibly be watching all the time called “crush zones” in your tail swing area.
3 Where possible use a banks man to watch you and guard against someone running into your working area by accident.
  a Your danger area is the 360 envelope of your reach and tail swing combined.
4 Never work under raised equipment, always lower the machine or boom to the ground.
5 Where possible equip yourself with proper industrial work wear, such as safety boots, hard had and hi-visibility clothing.
  a These are available over the counter at shops such as Arco Walker and may be ordered through self drive excavators.
6 Never dis-mount the machine without engaging the safety cut out lever or console.
7

Remember to check for underground obstructions before you dig anywhere.

8 Never track backwards without observing a clear area.
  a Try to slew and face the direction of travel at all times.
9 Make sure the cab floor is free of loose items that may get stuck under a track lever for example when on a slope.
10 If using off set boom, understand that the counterbalance front to rear, of your machine, has totally changed, and your ground contact will change.
11 Never operate the controls from anywhere else other than the drivers seat, such as when changing buckets.
12

If, when operating the machine, you find it to be unstable when digging, you may have exceeded the machines capabilities:

  a you may need a larger machine
  b your ground conditions may be too poor for that type of excavator. Call us for advice. We are here to help & advise you.

Machine Operating Instructions

The following instructions are to help you to operate your excavator efficiently and safely, please read them before you start your machine. Your excavator will have received a pre hire check over, however, you should check all levels daily, whilst on hire. Also, check for any other malfunctions or defects, such as leaking hoses, faulty guards.
1

Never operate your machine whilst taking medication that may cause drowsiness.
2

Never operate the machine whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
3

Always operate at low revs, to familiarise yourself with the controls initially.
4

Never allow bucket pins to work loose, always keep their safety pins in place, serious damage is possible by your failure to observe this.
5

Never dig with grading or ditching buckets, use only buckets with teeth for digging.
6

Be careful when working with boom offset, the machine will be less stable when using large buckets at full reach.
7

You must grease the machine daily, failure to do so causes excessive wear for which you will be liable, bucket pins must be greased after each change of bucket, or every day at least. A grease gun is provided for your use, extra grease can be supplied if requested.
8

Never allow anything to come into contact and score the machines' hydraulic rams.
9

Never ever hit, beat, or hammer with the bucket in any direction.
10

Under no circumstances must fast travel speed be used on uneven ground, on machines so equipped.
11

You must not tamper or adjust any part of this machine, if you think something is wrong, phone self drive excavators immediately.
12

In freezing conditions, allow the machine to warm up for 5 minutes, and never park in soft mud, which will freeze.
13

Never traverse slopes, go up and down only.
14

Always use pre heat when first starting in the morning: throw the key to the left and wait for the glow light to go out, then start. It is only required when cold.
15

Never allow wire or nylon or metal banding to wrap around the tracks/sprockets/track motors.
16

Be careful to use only clean diesel uncontaminated with dirt or water or other fuels.
17

The excavator is not a lifting appliance, and must not be used as such.
18

It is your responsibility to check fuel oil & water daily.
19

Please clean the machine before off hiring, or leave it in the condition you received it.
20

If you are leaving the fuel tank empty, never allow the warning light to come on, as the loader driver will not have enough diesel in the tank to run the machine up the ramps.
21

Machines with cabs can be more unstable than the canopy version, travel carefully, and level the ground as much as possible with the bucket, before tracking over it.
22

Rubber track machines will have less grip than steel track machines on grass and mud, but steel track machines will have less grip on concrete and tar than rubber track machines.
23

When operating your machine you must be aware, that there is a limit to how much your machine’s tracks will cope with.  Do not turn excessively, especially in stone or gravel. Periodically it is good practice to track straight forwards and back to maintain a clear track chain bed.
24

Rubber tracks will take less punishment than steels.
25 Booklets are available should you wish to know more about operating the machine.

For a Printable Version of this file click HERE