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Recovering of Excavator fron Valley-Idea Required
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SHV  
#1 Posted : 27 September 2014 12:09:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SHV
Dear All

A 30 Tone Excavator fell down to Valley 10 Meters depth and upside down

We have only 50 Tonne (no more crane available)..the possible soultion is :dismantle the equipment and lift..Ground is a bit stable and tiliting to 180 has only 2 meter space
Any thought ?

SHV
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phil39  
#2 Posted : 27 September 2014 15:58:34(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
phil39
SHV

Have you any images? Bottom, middle, top and surrounding the top of the valley?

Can it be driven out of the bottom to another exit or better access point via a different route if righted?
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firesafety101  
#3 Posted : 27 September 2014 16:17:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101
Helicopter - seriously !
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johnmurray  
#4 Posted : 28 September 2014 09:08:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
johnmurray
Excavator: excavate thyself!
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johnmc  
#5 Posted : 28 September 2014 10:01:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
johnmc
Hi SHV, without seeing the situation it is hard to offer sound advice, however in the past I have used winches, dismantled, and on one occasion drained the fluids and buried the machine (with permission of course). The cost of recovery, value of the machine, amount of damage, finding an organisation interested in helping you out are only the start of the many problems you may face. It may be helpfull to approach the local milatry as they wil often attempt such an operation as a training exercise. Good luck anyway.
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stuie  
#6 Posted : 28 September 2014 13:49:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stuie
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alexmccreadie13  
#7 Posted : 28 September 2014 18:19:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alexmccreadie13
SHV
Find a good local Heavy Recovery Company or contact your nearest REME Army unit.
PM me the area you are in and I will get you help from REME
Ta Alex
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Mebo  
#8 Posted : 29 September 2014 14:12:49(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mebo
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toe  
#9 Posted : 29 September 2014 23:54:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
quote=alexmccreadie13]SHV
Find a good local Heavy Recovery Company or contact your nearest REME Army unit.
PM me the area you are in and I will get you help from REME
Ta Alex


If you are asking this question on here you are not competent to carry out this task, and no-one on here can tell you how to do it. Their are too many elements to safe recovery that have to be considered, rolling resistance, ground factors, damage resistance, WOV, degree of slope, safety factors etc..
Take the advice from the above post, the REME (heavy recovery mechanic) will be able to advice how this should be recovered, this is what they do are what they are good at.
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cobblers  
#10 Posted : 30 September 2014 09:34:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
cobblers
alexmccreadie13 wrote:
SHV
Find a good local Heavy Recovery Company or contact your nearest REME Army unit.
PM me the area you are in and I will get you help from REME
Ta Alex


This is probably not a good idea. After the recovery mechanic has spent hours ridiculing your driver for getting bogged in and doing unworldly things that could never be posted on this forum then you could have got done by somebody else.
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Bob Howden  
#11 Posted : 30 September 2014 13:50:33(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Bob Howden
Had a similar problem many years ago with a payloader that ran into a gulley and overturned. We righted it back onto it's wheels and winched it out.
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toe  
#12 Posted : 01 October 2014 19:14:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
quote=cobblers]
alexmccreadie13 wrote:
SHV
Find a good local Heavy Recovery Company or contact your nearest REME Army unit.
PM me the area you are in and I will get you help from REME
Ta Alex


This is probably not a good idea. After the recovery mechanic has spent hours ridiculing your driver for getting bogged in and doing unworldly things that could never be posted on this forum then you could have got done by somebody else.


Your right about the ridiculing but wrong about the 'not a good idea'. Your local crane company may not have the skills to recover this vehicle safely. The REME do this sort of work all the time and have an array of heavy recovery equipment and expertise to do the job. I'm giving this advice from experience.
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toe  
#13 Posted : 01 October 2014 19:17:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
Continued.....

Remember this is a 30 tone vehicle upside down in a valley.
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Martin Gray  
#14 Posted : 01 October 2014 19:32:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Martin Gray
SHV

Many years ago I served in REME and we recovered and digger from Strangford Loch in Northern Ireland it was in danger of being submerged as the Loch was tidal. We had a very short time frame in which to recover it. We achieved this in time with the water lapping the top of the tracks as we pulled it clear of the water. No additional damage was caused and the owner was very pleased to get his digger back in one piece.
As said REME have the expertise, equipment and skill to recovery heavy items (they do recover Main Battle tanks). You have not said where you are based but there are REME TAVR Units around the country who may be able to assist if asked.
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toe  
#15 Posted : 01 October 2014 19:50:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
Arte et Marte
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paul.skyrme  
#16 Posted : 01 October 2014 21:19:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
paul.skyrme
OK, look TBH, WAY out of my area of expertise, however, REME sounds like a blinking good idea to me.
Not only could you get the machine back in a usable state, but, you would also be doing the our country a favour by allowing the local REME regiment to practice for real what they train for.
Hopefully the guys will never need to do this in a battle zone, but, it is what they train for, come on, if you don't want, to do what you have trained for, it's time to look for another vocation.
So, another vote, for REME, even though it is based on feelings rather than facts.
What have you got to loose, a couple of emails/phone calls, what if they say yes the'll do it FOC as they need the practice?
At worst they are going to say no, and somewhere inbetween they are going to charge you.

I'd say, no brainer, but, hey what to I know?
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firesafety101  
#17 Posted : 01 October 2014 21:33:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101
In my early reply I suggested helicopter as I was thinking armed forces but the REME idea sounds very good to me.

The Excavator has been sitting in the valley for almost a week now and for all we know the way the weather is changing it could be at the bottom of a lake pretty soon.

AS Paul suggests why not ask you just may get the right answer 😊
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toe  
#18 Posted : 01 October 2014 23:47:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
At the least the REME can tell you how it will need to be recovered and they will work out the estimated pull, EP (this advice will be free of charge).

They may offer to recover the vehicle as a training exercise, but will need approval by high command and a detailed risk assessment conducted, and this will normally be done at the weekend.

If they do agree to recover the vehicle, they normally ask for you to make a donation to a charity (Erskine or the poppy appeal are good ones to choose) and a few beers handed into the soldiers mess usually does the trick.

Good Luck
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alexmccreadie13  
#19 Posted : 02 October 2014 08:52:22(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alexmccreadie13
SHV

After all these posts have you managed to organise anything yet?

Some of the replies are really helpful. Even Cobblers brings back loads of Yellow Handbag memories.

Toe (Twist To Open) sorry folks an in joke.
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cobblers  
#20 Posted : 03 October 2014 13:19:55(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
cobblers
Toe wrote:
quote=cobblers]
alexmccreadie13 wrote:
SHV
Find a good local Heavy Recovery Company or contact your nearest REME Army unit.
PM me the area you are in and I will get you help from REME
Ta Alex


This is probably not a good idea. After the recovery mechanic has spent hours ridiculing your driver for getting bogged in and doing unworldly things that could never be posted on this forum then you could have got done by somebody else.


Your right about the ridiculing but wrong about the 'not a good idea'. Your local crane company may not have the skills to recover this vehicle safely. The REME do this sort of work all the time and have an array of heavy recovery equipment and expertise to do the job. I'm giving this advice from experience.


The reasons for it not being a good idea were tongue in cheek. Having served as a member of a CRARRV crew I am quite aware of the capabilities of a recce mech. They have the expertise and knowledge to recover all sorts of vehicles but to say they do this all of the time may be taking it a bit far. I'm sure though they will be able to offer advice and as stated they would be able to use this as a bit of a training and PR exercise. You'd be better to get a regular unit to do it as they would be better equipped.
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toe  
#21 Posted : 04 October 2014 17:21:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
cobblers

People post on here for guidance and help. I believe you post @10 wasn't helpful, said in jest or not.
Its good to see you have changed you post and agree with the advice given in previously.
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Kim Hedges  
#22 Posted : 06 October 2014 15:01:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges
So what's happened, did you get it out, how?
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Kim Hedges  
#23 Posted : 06 October 2014 15:02:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges
Having been involved in heavy vehicle recovery with the army, I am interested in a reply.
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cobblers  
#24 Posted : 06 October 2014 16:23:30(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
cobblers
Toe wrote:
cobblers

People post on here for guidance and help. I believe you post @10 wasn't helpful, said in jest or not.
Its good to see you have changed you post and agree with the advice given in previously.


Not sure what's unhelpful about telling the truth. I've seen lots of people ridiculed for getting bogged in. Thanks for your approval RE the second post though.
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SHV  
#25 Posted : 08 October 2014 09:58:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SHV
Thanks for contribution

No, still excavator in the valley, but we able to recover trailer and tail safely..we planning to bring second 50 Tonne crane as well, the excavator weight is 20 Tonne

SHV
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chris42  
#26 Posted : 08 October 2014 11:06:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42
What is at either end of the Valley ? Could it be taken out that way and repair any damage to trees etc afterwards ?

Could you get the excavator the right way up, and infill the 33 feet deep valley a bit and drive it out ?

Just a thought

Chris
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SHV  
#27 Posted : 08 October 2014 12:16:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SHV
Chris

Initially we though about turning the excavator and let excavator come out by itself however we don't know the extend of damage to the excavator, ...the downside of the excavator is river..any way we are preparing lifting plan to use two cranes to lift up..

SHV
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alexmccreadie13  
#28 Posted : 08 October 2014 13:45:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alexmccreadie13
SHV

Thanks for coming back to us it will be interesting to know how it goes in the end.

Ta Alex
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MrsBlue  
#29 Posted : 08 October 2014 14:53:37(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest
Your experts in this field are the Army specifically the REME who in my day trained soldiers in vehicle recovery - indeed it was a recognised trade.

How about contacting the Royal Logistical Corps who may help you, seeing as they would get good training out of the recovery and therefore may not charge for the effort
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SHV  
#30 Posted : 08 October 2014 22:48:32(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SHV
First of all,

This excavator is not in UK , so i can not get REME....secondly, company hire OHS professional to solve the issue and not transferring issue to others...forget about transferring job to experts to reduce the risks..

The challenge is not always interpretation of regulations, standards or NEBOSH questions...in such situation, people recognize who is a paper safety man or real problem solver...

SHV
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toe  
#31 Posted : 10 October 2014 18:02:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe
SHV

Maybe if you had stated that this was not in the UK then you may not have got the replies that you did ref getting REME involved.

If the company hire OHS professional to solve the issue then why are they not doing this, and why have you posted the question here looking for advice?
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alexmccreadie13  
#32 Posted : 10 October 2014 18:41:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
alexmccreadie13
SHV
A very strange reply after asking a question there are a great amount of problm solvers on here.

For instance I did 25 years as a Recovery Mechanic I could have put you onto REME yes but also in touch with people capsble of solving this problem all over the world .

Admitted people do go of on a tangent here but that is what people do. I suppose if we did not have people most days life would be simple.

In the end as Toe says you asked a question in some cases help was offered very strange reply.

Ta Alex
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Martin Gray  
#33 Posted : 10 October 2014 18:45:35(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Martin Gray
SHV
The OHS is not a professional in vehicle or plant recovery and therefore they will need to discuss the issues with the professional recovery team.
Most OHS professionals will not have the knowledge or expertise in such a difficult recovery procedure and should hold their hands up and say so.
The recovery of plant and equipment is not a simple risk assessment, the recovery procedure changes dynamics as the recovery takes place.
Get an expert who knows the risks and not a hired in OHS expert.
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SHV  
#34 Posted : 11 October 2014 14:06:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SHV
Dear All

We recovered the excavator finally and in safe manner! thanks for positive contributors.. Sorry if i did not say it was not in UK..it could be good if we could post picture in the forum then people could have better sense and they could have tangible advice( some forums allow that)

No offend , but some people jump in the forum and say Hi..i am inn.. anyway....

Martin, majority of companies, i have worked in oil and gas business, interested to OHS people who had hands on experience.( I don't have much hands on)..there are people in this forum who really done the job or at least they knew what tricks required for such thing..i was not involved in such job before but i have learned from team, mechanic, rigger, assistants, research and some tangible advice over here , now i can guide people if the exact situation happen to another person. Getting expert in some remote area is not easy..

SHV
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