12 Tips to Lift Safely with Backhoes and Excavators.docx

8/19/2019 12 Tips to Lift Safely with Backhoes and Excavators.docx

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12 Tips to Lift Safely with Backhoes and ExcavatorsBY BECKY SCHULTZ ON APR 18, 2014

Make sure there is solid footing under the machine with the strength to support its weight. This will maximize both

stability and its lifting capabilities.

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Make sure there is solid footing under the machine with the strength to support its weight. This will maximize both

stability and its lifting capabilities.

Using back!"s an# "$ca%a&!'s !n si&"s &! (i)& an# *(ac" "a%+ c!ns&'c&i!n -a&"'ia(s sa%"s &i-" an# -!n"+, b& #!ing

&" .!b sa)"(+ #"-an#s s*"cia( ca'"/

A %a'i"&+ !) c!nc"'ns c!-" in&! *(a+, sa+s K"%in H"'sb"'g"', s"ni!' -a'k"& *'!)"ssi!na( )!' back!" (!a#"'s a&

Ca&"'*i((a', nc(#ing *!&"n&ia( &'"nc ca%"3in, (i)&ing ca*abi(i&+ !) &" -acin", %isibi(i&+ !) &" !*"'a&!' &! &" "n&i'"

!'k a'"a, -!#(a&i!n an# c!n&'!((abi(i&+ !) &" -acin", ski(( ("%"( !) &" !*"'a&!', c!n#i&i!n !) &" (i)&ing &ack(" an#

s&abi(i&+ !) &" -acin", &! na-" a )"/

1. It’s critical to ensure the machine is rated to handle the load.

E$c""#ing &" -acin"5s ca*aci&+ can cas" a *'!."c& #"(a+ i) &" -acin" )ai(s &! -ak" &" (i)&, an# &" -acin" -a+

a(s! b"c!-" ns&ab(", c'"a&ing a a6a'#/

ns&abi(i&+ is an !b%i!s c!nc"'n b"cas" &i**ing c!(# ("a# &! in.'+ !' #a-ag" &! &" -acin", si&" !' *a+(!a# 7

a(( !) ic a'" c!s&(+, sa+s Ka&i" P(("n, b'an# -a'k"&ing -anag"' )!' Cas" back!" (!a#"'s/ Li)&ing &a& "$&'a

(!a# a(s! *&s n#! s&'"ss"s !n &" -acin", ic can ("a# &! -ain&"nanc" iss"s !' )ai('"s/

O%"'(!a#ing &" back!" !' "$ca%a&!' )!' a (i)& can a(s! #a-ag" &" .!bsi&" an#!' (!a#/ An# &"n +! a%" &! )ac&!'

in &!s" #!n&i-" an# '"*ai' c!s&s, n!&"s Pi(i**" Biss!n, b'an# -a'k"&ing -anag"', "$ca%a&!'s, Cas" C!ns&'c&i!n

E9i*-"n&/ &5s (&i-a&"(+ n!& !'& i&/


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T" *'!*"' -acin" *'!%i#"s s))ici"n& (i)& an# '"ac &! *(ac" &" -a&"'ia( "'" n""#"#, sa+s L!ann Hasn"',

back!" (!a#"'s -a'k"&ing -anag"', :!n ;""'" C!ns&'c&i!n < =!'"s&'+, >i(" -ain&aining s&abi(i&+ an# c!n&'!( a&

a(( &i-"s/

2. Make sure operators are thoroughly trained to read lift charts for the machines they operate.

E%"n a -acin" i& "n!g -a$i-- ca*aci&+ &! (i)& a (!a# can b" !%"'(!a#"# in -c !) &" b!!-5s !'king

'ang"/

Li)& ca'&s can b" c!n)sing "n &"+ s! s"%"'a( n-b"'s !n a *ag" &! #"*ic& cang"s in "ig& (i-i&s &'!g a

(i)&ing a'c !' "n (!a#s a'" '!&a&"# )'!- &" -acin" c"n&"'(in", sa+s Ra+ P"&"'s!n, )!n#"' !) ?STA T'aining/ n

&" cas" !) s!-" c'a("' "$ca%a&!'s, &" (i)&ing ca*aci&+ )'!- &" s*'!ck"& "n# !) &" n#"'ca''iag" &! &" i#("' "n#

-a+ %a'+ s(ig&(+/ An# i& @(i)&ing ca*aci&+ i(( a(a+s b" a))"c&"# 7 )!' b!& c'a("' "$ca%a&!'s an# 'bb"'3&i'"#

back!" (!a#"'s 7 "n *icking !%"' &" si#"/

acin" ca*aci&+ is c!ns&an&(+ canging, #"*"n#ing !n "'" &" b!!- is in i&s !'king 'ang"/ T" "9i*-"n&

-an)ac&'"'5s (i)& ca'& #"signa&"s &" sa)" (i)&ing ca*aci&+ a& %a'i!s b!!- ang("s, (i)& "ig&s an# sing 'a#ii/

A (!a# can g"& !& !) c!n&'!( 9ick(+ i) (i)& ca'&s a'"n5& )!((!"#/ =!' ins&anc", a (!a# &a& -a+ b" sa)" &! an#("

#i'"c&(+ b"in# &" -acin" -ig& b" nsa)" i) &" !*"'a&!' !(# sing &! &" si#", H"'sb"'g"' *!in&s !&/

Li)&ing !%"' &" si#" !) "i&"' a back!" (!a#"' !' a '!&a&ing "$ca%a&!' cang"s &" ba(anc" *!in&, P"&"'s!n "$*(ains/

Tis, a(!ng i& "$&"n#ing &" (!a# )'&"' )'!- &" c"n&"' &i**ing *!in&, -a+ ("a# &! s##"n (!ss !) (!a# c!n&'!(/

T'aining !*"'a&!'s &! &" ca*abi(i&i"s !) &"i' -acin"s s!(# b" *a'& !) &" %"'+ )i's& ins&'c&i!n &"+ '"c"i%" b")!'"

b"ing gi%"n &" c!n&'!(s, Biss!n "-*asi6"s/ E9i*-"n& !n"'s s!(# a(s! "ns'" &a& -acin" ca*aci&i"s a'"

c("a'(+ *!s&"# !' a%ai(ab(" in &" -acin" )!' '")"'"nc" &'!g!& &" #a+/

ak" s'" !*"'a&!'s can i#"n&i)+ 'a&"# (i)& ca*aci&i"s a& %a'i!s *!si&i!ns a'!n# &" -acin"/ B+ kn!ing &"s"

(i-i&s an# c!n#i&i!ns, sa+s H"'sb"'g"', &" !*"'a&!' can "ns'" &a& " s"&s * &! -an"%"' &" (!a# &! an a'"a !)

inc'"as"# sa)"&+/

3. Before lifting, inspect the machine to ensure there is no damage or other factors that could impede lifting

capacity.

C"ck &" s''!n#ing a'"a )!' !bs&ac("s !' a6a'#s i&in &" (i)& 6!n"/ B" -in#)( !) &i(i&i"s an# !&"' !%"'"a#

!bs&ac("s &a& -ig& b" *'"s"n&, sa+s Biss!n/

4. Make sure the machine is positioned on a stable ork surface, as far back from the edge of any nearby

e!ca"ations as possible.


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B" aa'" !) &" g'!n# c!n#i&i!ns *'i!' &! &" (i)& an# i) (!!s" -a&"'ia( is *'"s"n& b"n"a& &" -acin", sa+s K"n&

P"(("g'ini, *'!#c& a**(ica&i!n s*"cia(is& )!' "$ca%a&!'s a& Ca&"'*i((a'/

A(a+s (i)& !%"' &" i#("' "n# !) &" &'acks "n (i)&ing i& an "$ca%a&!', an# -ak" s'" &" -acin" is *!si&i!n"#

"'" &'acks a'" s&ab(" i& n! %!i#s !' s!)& g'!n# n#"'n"a&/ Ta& c!(# cas" &" -acin" &! '!ck/

a&"'ia( bi(& * n#"' &" )'!n& i#("'s "(*s i) &" g'!n# c!n#i&i!ns a'" s!)& &! -ain&ain a ("%"( (i)&ing s')ac",

P"(("g'ini sgg"s&s/

O) c!'s" i&5s b"s& &! a%!i# s!)& n#"')!!& c!n#i&i!ns, i) *!ssib("/

B" ca'")( ab!& "& "n%i'!n-"n&s, a##s Biss!n, "s*"cia((+ in &" s*'ing, as &" &a can (i9")+ a& -a+

!&"'is" s""- (ik" a g!!# !*"'a&ing s')ac"/

) +! a%" &! !'k )'!- n#"')!!& c!n#i&i!ns i& -a'gina( s&abi(i&+, s" -a&s, !!# *(a&)!'-s !' s&""( *(a&"s &!

*'!%i#" a -!'" s!(i# !'k *(a&)!'-/

Ha%ing a s!(i# )!!&ing i& &" s&'"ng& &! s**!'& &" -acin" is i-*"'a&i%", sa+s Hasn"'/ n a##i&i!n &! &"

!b%i!s sa)"&+ c!nc"'ns, (i)& ca*aci&+ can b" a))"c&"#/ A -acin" !n )(a& g'!n# i(( a%" ig"' (i)& ca*abi(i&i"s &an

a -acin" *!si&i!n"# !n a s(!*"/ S!)& !' ns&ab(" &"''ain can a(s! '"#c" (i)& ca*aci&+/

) &"'" a'" an+ #!b&s, *"')!'- a &"s& (i)&/ B"cas" 'aising &" (!a# '"#c"s -acin" s&abi(i&+, "s*"cia((+ !n s(!*"s !'

s!)& &"''ain, *"')!'-ing a &"s& (i)& is an "$c"(("n& a+ &! gain c!n)i#"nc" in -acin" s&abi(i&+ an# +#'a(ic ca*abi(i&+,

sa+s Hasn"'/

#. $nce the machine is properly positioned, it should be set up for ma!imum stability and lift capability.

n &" cas" !) a back!", b!& s&abi(i6"'s s!(# b" *(ac"# #!n s! &a& &" &i'"s a'" (i)&"# s(ig&(+ !)) &" g'!n#,

sa+s Ka&i" P(("n, b'an# -a'k"&ing -anag"' )!' Cas" back!" (!a#"'s/ T" *!in& !) a%ing &" &i'"s !)) &" g'!n# is

&! "(i-ina&" &" )(!a&ing !' ins&abi(i&+ &a& can b" cas"# b+ *n"-a&ic &i'"s/ T" (!a#"' bck"& s!(# a(s! b" *(ac"#

!n &" g'!n# )!' )'&"' s&abi(i&+/

A%!i# (i)&ing &" &i'"s &!! )a' !)) &" g'!n#, as i& 'ais"s &" -acin"5s c"n&"' !) g'a%i&+ an# na''!5s &" !&'igg"'s5

)!!&*'in&/

) !*"'a&ing an "$ca%a&!' "9i**"# i& a b(a#", &" b(a#" s!(# b" *(ac"# !n &" g'!n# )!' s&abi(i&+/ A(s! -ak" s'"

&" *'!*"' c!n&"'"ig&s a'" in *(ac"/

) +!5'" "%"' !'king i& a c!-*ac& "$ca%a&!' i& '"&'ac&ab(" &'acks 7 ic a'" n!& g"n"'a((+ '"c!--"n#"# )!'

(i)&ing an# *(acing 7 i&5s i-*!'&an& &! '"-"-b"' &! !n(+ !*"'a&" i& &" &'acks )((+ "$&"n#"# !&, sa+s P(("n/


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T'acks s!(# !n(+ b" b'!g& in )!' )i&&ing &'!g &ig& a'"as, an# &" -acin" s!(# a(a+s b" s"# i& &"

&'acks "$&"n#"#/

%. &lear the area of any orkers.

>"n (i)&ing -a&"'ia( !n a .!bsi&", a c!n&'ac&!' -s& c!n)i'- &a& a(( b+s&an#"'s a'" !& !) &" sing 'a#is !) &"

b!!- &! "ns'" "-*(!+""s a'" *'!&"c&"# )'!- )a((ing !b."c&s, sa+s Hasn"'/

Biss!n a##s, T" !n(+ *"'s!n '"c!--"n#"# in &" i--"#ia&" a'"a is a s*!&&"' ! signa(s i-*!'&an& in)!'-a&i!n &!

&" !*"'a&!', an# &a& *"'s!n s!(# b" s&a&i!n"# "(( c("a' !) &" (i)& &aking *(ac"/

'. (s you’re performing the lift, keep in mind that a machine ill alays ha"e its highest lifting capacities

closer to the machine.

As -c as &" .!bsi&" a((!s, a(a+s k""* &" (!a# c(!s" &! &" -acin" as +! -!%" i&, an# &"n "$&"n# i& !& &!

*(ac" i& in &" #"si'"# (!ca&i!n %s/ "$&"n#ing i& !& an# &"n singing i&, P(("n a#%is"s/ Tis -"&!# i(( "ns'"

-!'" s&ab(" !*"'a&i!n/

). *lo mo"ements are stable mo"ements.

S(!, #"(ib"'a&" -!&i!n #'ing (i)& an# *(ac"-"n& "(*s "ns'" a c!n&'!(("# !*"'a&i!n, sa+s H"'sb"'g"'/

+. hen selecting rigging for the lift, check its load rating.

S!-" *"!*(" i(( a&&ac s&'a*s )!' a (i)& b"cas" i&5s a& &"+ a%" a%ai(ab(", b& &a& s&'a* -a+ !n(+ b" 'a&"# )!'

100 (bs/, !' 2,00 (bs/ 7 an# &" *i"c" &"+5'" (i)&ing is D,000 (bs/, sa+s P(("n/ A(a+s -ak" s'" &" 'igging is

'a&"# &! an#(" &" (!a#/

Rigging -s& a(s! b" si&"# &! &" a**(ica&i!n/

=!' "$a-*(", i& is n!& sa)" &! s" cains #"sign"# )!' "9i*-"n& &'ans*!'& in a (!a# (i)&ing a**(ica&i!n, sa+s P"&"'s!n/

An# cain s"# )!' (i)&ing (!a#s s!(# n"%"' b" s"# &! &i" #!n "9i*-"n& )!' &'ans*!'&/ N+(!n "b s(ings s!(#

n!& b" s"# &! *ick i&"-s &a& -a+ a%" sa'* "#g"s an# c!(# #a-ag" &" s(ing/ C!n%"'s"(+, sing cain &! (i)&

bn#("s !) '"ba' i(( n!& *'!%i#" as -c s(i* '"sis&anc" )!' (!ng ("ng&s as a #!b(" bask"& i&c i& n+(!n "b/

a&"'ia( b"ing (i)&"# !)&"n #ic&a&"s &" &+*" !) 'igging '"9i'"#/

=!' "$a-*(", *icking bn#("s !) -a&"'ia(s sc as '"ba' !' %a'i!s &+*"s !) *i*" -a+ '"9i'" a sing(" !' #!b("

bask"& i&c sing "b s(ings, i(" (i)&ing s!-" *'"cas& c!nc'"&" i&"-s -a+ #"-an# -(&i*("3*!in& s"c'"-"n& sing

cains !' i'" '!*" i& c("%is a&&ac-"n& #"%ic"s !' s*"cia( c(a-*3an#3*ick &!!(s, P"&"'s!n "$*(ains/ H! "ac

&+*" !) (i)&ing s(ing is a&&ac"# &! &" (!a#, as "(( as &! &" -acin" #!ing &" (i)&ing, is c'i&ica(/


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1-. no the condition of the rigging.

T" 'igging s!(# b" ins*"c&"# b")!'" "ac s" &! "ns'" &"'" a'" n! signs !) #a-ag" !' "a', sa+s H"'sb"'g"'/

11. (lays ensure the load is properly secured to the carrier.

P'!*"' (i)&ing "9i*-"n&, ic inc(#"s (a&cing !!ks, "(*s "ns'" &" (!a# i(( b" an#("# sa)"(+, sa+s

H"'sb"'g"'/

Y!5(( s"" !n s!-" .!bs &" cain si-*(+ b"ing a&&ac"# &! a bck"&5s &!!&, !' &! &" "#g" !) &" bck"&, P(("n

c!--"n&s/ B" i& a s&'a* !' a cain, 'igging s!(# a(a+s b" *'!*"'(+ !!k"# &! &" -acin"/ n &" cas" !) an

"$ca%a&!', &a&5s -aking s'" i&5s !!k"# &! &" (!a#3an#(ing "+" !n &" bck"& !' c!*("'/ =!' a back!", &a& -"ans

i&5s *'!*"'(+ a&&ac"# &! &" (i)&ing !!ks !n &" (!a#"' bck"&, !' &! &" (i)&ing "+" sa((+ an a&&ac"# c("%is !!kF !n

&" back!" a'-/

>a+s &! s"c'" a (!a# %a'+/

& a(( #"*"n#s !n &" &+*" !) (!a#, an# i) &"'" is a sing("3*!in& (i)&ing "+" !' -(&i*(" *!in&s, sa+s P(("n/ Tak" a

&'"nc '!(("', )!' ins&anc", @ic is c!--!n(+ (i)&"# in&! &'"nc"s b+ "$ca%a&!'s/ T"'" a'" )!' (i)& *!in&s !n i&, an#

i&5s an a'&ic(a&"# -acin"/ Y! a%" &! -ak" s'" &a& &" a'&ic(a&i!n .!in& is (!ck"# an# &a& a(( )!' *!in&s a'"

c!nn"c&"# s! &a& i&5s n!& g!ing &! &i*, s*in !' !bb("/ ) +!5'" (i)&ing an# *(acing a *a(("&, -ak" s'" &a& i&5s *'!*"'(+

ban#"# an# s"c'"#/

B!&&!- (in"G Tak" a#%an&ag" !) a(( a%ai(ab(" (i)&ing *!in&s &! "ns'" (!a# s&abi(i&+, s" a#%is"s, an# &"n -ak" s'"

&a& &" (!a# is s"c'"# s! &a& i& cann!& si)& !' c!-" a*a'& #'ing &" (i)&/ ET

12. (lso take precautions, as needed, to minimi/e the risk of sudden shifts hile mo"ing the load.

an+ (!a#s s!(# a%" !n" !' -!'" '!*" &ag(in"s a&&ac"# )!' *"'s!ns &! "(* c!n&'!( &" (!a# )'!- singing an#

sa+ing, ic -a+ '"s(& in s&'"ss"s &a& can !%"'(!a# &" (i)&ing #"%ic" !' cas" -acin" *s"&, sa+s P"&"'s!n/

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12 Tips to Lift Safely with Backhoes and Excavators.docx