Quick hitch guide published

The Strategic Forum has published its guide to the Safe Use of Quick Hitches on Excavators. The 47-page document covers all aspects of selecting and using manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic quick hitches, their installation and maintenance.

 

Much emphasises is placed on the excavator/quick hitch owners providing adequate up-to-date information for operators and maintenance staff which this could include stickers on the boom or in the cab. A system to ensure couplers have regular inspections, maintenance and examinations also needs to be in place.

 

At site level the guide highlights work planning and ensuring that, regardless of the type of coupler used, operators get out of the cab to check the quick hitch is securely locked before using the attachment. Once the bucket has been attached, locked and physically checked, the guide says the quick hitch should be crowded out and shaken vigorously to ensure it is held securely.

 

It also highlights the potential danger of using a bucket is reversed direction (as a face shovel) because not all couplers are designed to work in that condition.

 

The guide says all quick hitches fatalities have occurred when a bucket or attachment has become detached and struck someone. "To do this the victim has to be in an unsafe position either under the implement, or on its path as it becomes detached whilst slewing, lifting and or lowering."

 

It places the responsibility on site managers to ensure no-one is required to be beneath the bucket or implement at any time, and to segregate high risk activities such as bucket changing. It also charges managers with ensuring the operator is familiar with the type of coupler being used, does not 'hook' buckets to move them from place to another and implementing a reporting system for any unsafe behaviour on site.

 

Copies of the guide can be downloaded free of charge from the CPA website.

Click Here

---