The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning about the risk of people being struck by an excavator or a load if the operator does not use the isolation device correctly.
HSE published a safety notice after a slinger was fatally crushed between the quick hitch and a fixed structure during a lifting operation.
The excavator operator was leaning out of his cab to communicate with the slinger when he inadvertently made contact with the left-hand joystick, causing the excavator to slew. The safety control lever had not been applied to isolate the machine.
HSE said safety control levers or isolation devices should be applied to isolate excavators or similar plant while at rest when people are in the operational arc.
It added that dutyholders should monitor the application and correct use of the safety control device, and that machine operators should communicate with those around plant when it is safe to approach.
