Kubota U17-5 Health & Safety Guidance – Excavator Use

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Who May Operate the Machine

• Be 18 years of age or over
• Be trained, competent, and authorised to operate excavators
• Wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including: Safety helmet, Steel toe-capped boots, High-visibility clothing, and additional PPE as required by site conditions (e.g. dust mask, hearing protection).

🚨 If you are not trained or competent, do not operate the machine.

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Using the Machine Correctly

• The excavator must be operated in accordance with Kubota’s operating instructions
• Only approved buckets and attachments supplied or approved by the hire company may be used
• When lifting: Always work within the Safe Working Load (SWL), never overload or force the machine, and never lift people.

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Site Safety – Legal Responsibilities

• UK law requires that construction sites are organised so that pedestrians and excavators are kept separate, safe traffic routes are provided, and access to the working area is controlled.
• Excavators must be correctly selected for the task, properly maintained, and operated only by trained and competent persons.

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Main Excavator Hazards (HSE Identified)

• Moving – striking pedestrians, particularly while reversing
• Slewing – trapping a person between the machine and a fixed object
• Working – the bucket or attachment strikes a person, or falls unexpectedly

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Controlling the Risk – Five Key Rules

• Exclusion: Keep people away from the working area. Use barriers, fencing, or bunting where required.
• Clearance: Maintain at least 0.5 m clearance between any part of the machine (especially the counterweight) and nearby obstructions.
• Visibility: Maintain clear visibility of the working area at all times. Never rely on people to “stay clear” without controls in place.
• Plant & Vehicle Marshaller: Use a trained marshaller where pedestrians or vehicles may be affected. Marshallers must work from a safe, visible position.
• Buckets & Attachments: Bucket detachment is a known fatal risk. Use only attachments supplied or approved by the hire company. If unsure about attachment security, stop work and contact the hire company.

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Before Starting Work

• Complete the Daily Operator Awareness Check (visual awareness only)
• Sit correctly in the operator’s seat and fasten the seatbelt
• Lower the blade or stabilisers as required
• Ensure the area is clear of people and animals
• Confirm you are not working near underground services or overhead power lines

🚨 If unsure, do not proceed.

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Safe Working Practices

• Never stand or work under a raised boom or attachment
• Never carry passengers
• Never work under the machine when supported by the boom or blade
• Never operate with missing guards or covers
• Keep other vehicle drivers well clear when loading
• Trenches deeper than 1.2 m must be properly supported

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Safe Travel

• Take extreme care when operating on slopes
• Travel straight up or down slopes, not across
• Keep the bucket as low as possible
• Do not travel with the boom raised
• Do not cross trenches or kerbs at an angle

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Fuel & Oil Safety

• Switch off the engine before refuelling
• No smoking or naked flames
• Use suitable, leak-proof fuel containers
• Clean up any spills immediately

🚨 If a fuel or oil leak is suspected: Stop work and contact the hire company immediately.

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Warning Lights & Alarms

• If a warning light or alarm appears: Stop work, switch off the engine if safe to do so, do not attempt repairs, and contact the hire company immediately.

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Responsibility & Legal Compliance

• This equipment is supplied in accordance with UK health and safety legislation.
• The hire company is responsible for inspection, maintenance, and servicing of the machine.
• The operator is responsible for safe operation, following the guidance provided, and stopping work immediately if any unsafe or abnormal condition is observed.