![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
EXCAVATOR QUICK HITCH SAFETY GUIDANCE
Updated guidance to HSE Inspectors reveals likely enforcement action
HSE has published SIM 02/2007/01 Version 3 – Safe use of quick hitch devices on excavators providing updated guidance to HSE Construction Inspectors on the safe use of excavator quick hitches, including:
- common failure modes, in particular with semi-automatic hitches;
- key issues that inspectors may consider during inspection;
- guidance on where HSE enforcement may be taken; and
- recent developments in use and legal requirements.
A quick hitch (QH) on an excavator is a latching device that enables attachments to be connected to the dipper arm of the plant and interchanged quickly.
This guidance to Inspectors supplements existing Industry/HSE Guidance on QH’s.
A significant number of all accidents investigated on excavators are attributed to the bucket detaching from a quick hitch and injuring a ground worker. Many dangerous occurrences occur when a bucket detaches unintentionally from the hitch, but without injury.
Likely questioning by HSE inspectors
The SIM indicates that you should expect the following lines of enquiry from HSE Inspectors:
Does site supervision know if QHs on the excavators under their control require a manual safety pin?- Is the risk of bucket detachment covered by the risk assessment?
- Have excavator operators been trained in the use of their QHs and, where appropriate, in the use of the excavator as a crane?
- Is there a checklist in the cab of daily and weekly inspection and maintenance carried out on the excavator, and does this checklist include a check of the QH and lubrication as appropriate?
Is there a record of the inspection and maintenance actually carried out?- What are the management systems for checking whether manual safety pins are always in place?
- Are the safety pins inserted where appropriate?
- Can the operator explain the type of QH system used (does he/she know whether it needs a safety pin or not?)
- Is a manual or instruction card available in the cab?
- Does the operator know how to visually check that the QH is locked?
- Does the operator know that he should test the security of the bucket after changing it?
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
ROOF COLLAPSED UNDER EXCESS LOADING
Director and company fined over roof design failures
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th November 2018FORK LIFT OVERTURNED IN SCAFFOLDING YARD
Untrained operator suffered life changing crush injuries
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th November 2018STRUCTURAL SAFETY ALERT: EFFECTS OF SCALE
SCOSS issues alert after concerns disclosed over ‘large structures’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018ASBESTOS EXPOSED BY UNTRAINED WORKERS
Contractor failed to act properly despite HSE intervention
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018GAS MAIN STRIKE REPAIR CAUSED SEVERE BURNS
Contractor excavator damage to gas pipe ends in £1.2m fine
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018REBAR FELL FROM FLT IN UNSAFE LIFTING OPERATION
Multiple fractures caused by inappropriate use of fork lift
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 7th NOV 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices register latest version
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th November 2018POORLY PLANNED LIFT DISMANTLE INJURED WORKMAN
Counterweight or suspension rope struck worker in lift shaft
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st November 2018CONSTRUCTION INJURY AND ILL-HEALTH 2017/18
Fatal injury rate in long term decline whilst ill-health trend flat lining
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st November 2018DUMPER DRIVEN INTO OPEN UNGUARDED EXCAVATION
Contractor fined over absence of suitable excavation / dumper precautions
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st November 2018DEATH FAILED TO TRIGGER PREVENTIVE ACTION
Prison term for director whilst his company ordered to pay £3/4m
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th October 2018FAILURE TO MAINTAIN GUARDS PROVES COSTLY
Woodworking machinery defective despite previous HSE advice
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 26th October 2018CISRS LAUNCH SYSTEM SCAFFOLD INSPECTION COURSES
Training courses prompted by growing use of system scaffolding
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th October 2018HSE INSPECTS CLADDING REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
Advice to Inspectors published on fire risk during work on tall buildings
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th October 2018HIGHWAYS, RAIL AND WATER HEALTH & SAFETY HUBS
Websites provide useful information, alerts and tools
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2018ELIMINATING CONCRETE DRILLING VIBRATION HAZARD
Cutting specialist innovation avoids vibration exposure management
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2018NEW MEWP WORK AT HEIGHT RESCUE GUIDANCE
Industry body publishes simple guidance on MEWP stranding actions
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2018HSE PUBLISH RIDDOR DATA VISUALISATION TOOL
Construction injury records made more relevant and easily used
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2018DESIGNER CPD EVENT HOSTED BY HSE, APS & IOSH
CDM 2015 Construction Design Risk Management Event
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2018COUNCIL OVERLOOKED ICE RINK SLIPPING RISK
Obvious risk of employees falling on ice rink was left uncontrolled
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd October 2018STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd October 2018YOUNG WORKER FELL FROM PETROL STATION CANOPY
Steel fabricator after young construction worker falls on first day at work
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th October 2018FIRM FINED OVER FAILURE AT ASSESS VIBRATION RISK
Vibration regulations not acted upon until seven years in operation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th October 2018FAILURE TO ISOLATE LEAVES WORKMAN PARALYSED
Conveyor guards removed before power source isolated
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 16th October 2018TRADING STANDARDS AND HSE ACT IN CONCERT
Director given prison term over fraud and health and safety breaches
Posted on 15th October 2018
March 13th, 2013 at 3:56 pm
[…] this death a range of guidance has been published by HSE and others on the safe use of excavator quick […]