Posted By Ian Mitchell Afternoon. We are doing a civils job up in the Scottish highlands for a major utility company. We are using excavators to lift sundry items such as small pipes etc. The excavators are using the correct fitments of suitable SWL, are subject to LOLER and PUWER inspections as appropriate and are being operated by CPCS accredited cardholders. A guy from the client is saying that this is not enough on the training front. I don't mean training to carry out lifting plans, slinging techniques etc, just 'training to use the excavators for the purpose of lifting and not just excavating'. (His words) I am not 100% sure what the client guy is getting at, and there is no 'phone signal once they go up to the 'coal face' meaning I can't speak with them again until tomorrow. Any ideas? We haven't been asked this before? Thanks in advance

Posted By MP I suppose you could enquire what different controls will be used by your driver for lifting as opposed to excavating...... MP

Posted By Anthony Slinger Following on from Jeffery's response re. Quick Hitches. Ensure the bucket is taken off during lifting operations as they have a nasty habit of coming off and could fall on to the rigger stood beneath.

Posted By steve e ashton Ian Have you got access to TI (or similar)?. PM 42 - an old HSE guidance note - dealt specifically with excavators used as cranes. Whilst most of it has been superseded or made irrelevant by subsequent regulatory changes (PM42 was issued in 1984), you may find the info you / your client are looking for in it? Steve

Posted By Ian Mitchell FYI item 12c verbatim... c) In addition to evidence of training in operating the excavator, have excavator operators been trained in the use of their QHs, and in the use of the excavator as a crane? (NB: the CITB course does not cover quick hitches, or use of the excavator as a crane, so a CPCS card does not demonstrate competence in either of these). Eyes now fully opened :-o

Posted By RP Invairibly operators are trained to dig holes with this kit and not in any lifting operation. Some equipment does come with appropriate lifting fittings. So, the question to ask the operators is: 1. Have you recieved any training in the use of the lifting attachment, slings, shackles, etc? 2. Prove it, the CPCS card does not.

Posted By Jacko Jackson Ian, I visited a training provider recently to seek info regarding the use of crane hook attachments on Telehandlers, as we've had a couple of near misses late last year. I was advised that, as with excavators, the training is limited to the use of the machine for its main purpose (eg Telehandler as a rough terrain forklift, and excavator for, er....excavating). If the Operator then goes through additional training, they will be issued with a certificate to demonstrate their enhanced skills. The CPCS card should be backed up with a relevant additional certificate if the Operator is to safely undertake the more complex operations of the machine(s). Hope this helps