SPM Linda Teo
Construction Safety Management Section
Building Infrastructure Group
Content
Common Causes of Excavator Accident
Common Non-Compliances
Safety Requirements and Good Practices
Case Studies
Common Causes of
Excavator Accident
Common Causes of Excavator Accident
✓ Lack of Planning & Supervision
✓ Lack of Risk Assessment & Safe Work
Procedure
✓ Lack of Lifting Plan
✓ Lack of Proper Maintenance
✓ Failure of Competent Lifting Personnel
✓ Failure to Correctly Calculate the load
✓ Incorrect Sitting of the Excavator
✓ Use of Faulty Devices or Lifting Gears
Common Non-Compliances
Common Non-compliances
Defective safety latch at lifting hook of excavator
Common Non-compliances
Modified lifting hook on the bucket
Common Non-compliances
Used wire to secure the bucket link connect
Common Non-compliances
Used rebar to secure the bucket link connect
Safety Requirements
& Good Practices
Parts of Excavator (as Lifting Machine)
Arm
Boom
Operator cabin
Counterweight
Lifting hook
Bucket
Undercarriage
Registration for Excavator as Lifting Machine
An excavator may be used as a lifting machine if the following criteria is
filled :
❑ Registered by an Approved Person with MOM as a lifting machine;
❑ the excavator has been originally designed and manufactured to
also function as a lifting machine;
❑ the excavator shall be equipped with original hook(s) with safety
catch for hoisting purposes; and
❑ the excavator shall be equipped with load radius indicator which
shows clearly to the operator; the working radius and the
corresponding safe working load at all times and gives a warning
signal when the radius is unsafe.
Implementation of Lifting Plan
Lifting Plan shall include:
▪ Details of the load
▪ Details of the lifting equipment / lifting gears used
▪ Means of communications
▪ Personnel involved in lifting operation
▪ Environmental considerations
▪ Sequence / special precautions
▪ Sketch of the zone of operation
Competency of Lifting Team
Lifting Team shall comprise:
• Excavator Operator : Possess Skill Evaluation Certificate (K)
and Registered with SP Group
• Lifting Supervisor : At least 3 years experience
• Rigger Man
• Signal Man
LM Certificate
▪ Check the certificate LE Registration No. for the excavator and lifting
gear tally with the actual excavator and lifting gear used on site.
▪ Check the following dates of inspection by Authorised Examiner is
within the 1 year validity period:
➢ Inspection and Testing of the Excavator
➢ Inspection of all lifting gears
1 year validity
1 year validity
Ground Condition
When using the excavator for any lifting operation, the
excavator shall be positioned on firm and level ground such
as steel plate or compacted hardcore.
Load Indicator
Load radius indicator inside operator cabin
Lifting Hook
Lifting hook attached to the arm of the excavator
Lifting Gear
Lifting gear with valid tag
Link Pin
Original cotter pin to secure the bucket link connect
Link Pin
Original cotter pin to secure the bucket link connect
Clear Demarcation
Implement clear demarcation such as using barricades with
signage to warn and prevent unauthorised personnel from
entering when the excavator is in operation.
Excavator’s Attachment
Excavator’s attachments for fitting should be compatible with
the machine and coupling means to which they are attached.
The appointed person should verify from the manufacturers
that the combination is designed to take the load.
Bucket
Hydraulic
Breaker
Maintenance Regime
Description: Inspection By: Frequency:
Visual inspection and
functional test on the Operator Daily
safety devices
Inspection and Testing Authorised Examiner Once every year
Inspection of lifting
Authorised Examiner Once every year
gears
Case Studies
Case Study – 1
Excavator Toppled during Unloading of Reinforcement
Brief description
In the process of unloading the bundle of steel reinforcement from the trailer, the
excavator suddenly lost its stability and tilted forward. The arm of the excavator
landed on the leg of the injured worker.
Findings
• The 1-year validity period of the Lifting
Machine (LM) certificate for the
excavator had expired
• The excavator was parked on soft
ground and there was no steel plate
(or other means such as compacted
hardcore) to ensure the stability of the
excavator.
• No Lifting Plan
Lifting Supervisor
Rigger/Signalman
Injured worker
Lifting Supervisor
Rigger/Signalman
Injured worker
Lifting Supervisor
Rigger/Signalman
Injured worker
Lesson Learnt :
Do not carry
out lifting
operation on
an unstable
ground
Case Study – 2
Excavator Toppled during Concreting Works
Brief Description:
In the process of lowering the container of
concrete into an excavated area using the
excavator, the excavator suddenly tilted.
The bucket of the excavator struck the
deceased who was inside the excavated
area.
Findings
• Unauthorised operator operating
the excavator
• Overloading
• No application of permit-to-work for
lifting operation
Plan View
Excavated Area
Co-workers
Deceased
The excavator was parked
with its tracks perpendicular
to the excavator arm
Position of excavator and workers in the excavated area
Excavator lowering the
container of concrete
Deceased
3.2m
The excavator exceeded
the allowable lifting
capacity and tilted
The excavator toppled and
struck the deceased
