Posted By des roy Excavators, it is widely recognised, require the testing and thorough exams (TE) that any other lifting equipment would. If we take a crane, we would expect to see on the TE a SWL and at what configuration e.g. a test on a mobile crane might state that the SWL = 5 Te @ 10m (this configuartoion being the last configuration that it was tested in). My question is this: do members think that this same information detail should be given on an excavator, and if so, how is that excavators can be thoroughly examined in an on-site environment with no test weights etc.? DR

Posted By Robert K Lewis With the use of the correct bucket when excavating, ie the one supplied by the manufacturer for that machine, it should not be possible to exceed the SWL for the machine. Unless of course there is bad driver practice. When using the lifting eye you will see that there is a table in the vehicle stating the de-rated load; additionally there may be some form of overload warning device similar to a crane so that the radius can be varied. Most manufacturers opt for the former, ie derating only - based on the maximum load radius possible with the machine. Bob