Excavator Quick Coupler Device Toolbox Talk

Excavator Quick Coupler Device Safety Talk

Excavators are some of the most common pieces of heavy machinery found in the average construction site. Anything that requires digging will require an excavator. While it makes the lives of construction workers and excavating contractors much easier, it does pose a significant threat.

These machines can be very heavy and potentially deadly if not handled correctly. As a supervisory or foreman, it’s up to you to ensure that your crew is fully aware of the dangers excavators pose and how you can avoid them.

Quick Coupler Devices

These devices were designed to make life easier for the average construction worker. More specifically, those who are working with an excavator. These devices are designed to quickly change out the tool being used by the excavator. While these devices have made life easier, they also have created a significant threat.

It has been known for many years now that quick couplers can pose a danger to ground workers who are working around the excavator. There have been multiple fatalities due to the unexpected release of a bucket due to the quick coupler device opening up or failing. OSHA has addressed these devices in a special 2005 bulletin after fifteen incidents involving unexpected releases occurred in a seven-year span. While fifteen incidents were reported to OSHA, it is plausible that many more similar incidents occurred that resulted in near misses and were not reported to OSHA.

Common Excavator Hazards

Before we get into the ways you can avoid excavator accidents, it’s important that we lay out the most common hazards. Recognizing these hazards can help you avoid them altogether. It can also help you spot potential dangers before they can cause any harm. Here are some common excavator hazards:

Machine Rollovers

Machine rollovers can occur at any moment if the operator isn’t being safe. The ground giving out beneath the machine can cause rollovers. Other causes include traveling too quickly, traveling on a too-steep slope, and traveling with the attachments improperly lowered.

Not using proper safety equipment multiplies the lethality of a rollover. The sudden movement of a rollover can eject an operator if they don’t use the safety belts/harnesses or even leave the cab door open. Furthermore, an operator could be putting themselves at further risk if they attempt to exit the machine mid-roll over.

Contact with Power Lines

While regulations dictate that machines must stay at least 20 feet away from nearby power lines, electrocution still kills many excavator operators. Generally, contact occurs when operators fail to check if they have enough overhead clearance.

When a worker strikes a power line, they might panic and let go of the controls for a moment. When they attempt to touch the controls again or exit the machine, they get electrocuted. Besides the operator, any worker who attempts to approach the electrified machine might get shocked as well.

Maintenance Errors

When operators fail to properly maintain their machines, they put themselves and those nearby at risk. Even a misplaced lock pin could make a heavy component come loose and crush someone. In addition to misplaced components, unauthorized changes to the machine threaten its overall operational or structural integrity.

Trenching Accidents

Trenching accidents occur when the ground cannot support the changes in pressure caused by excavation. The weight of the machine can cause loose dirt to shift, which in turn can tip the machine.

Other trenching accidents result from improper trenching techniques or unskilled workers trying too complicated techniques. These can include attempting to straddle a trench or using the bucket arm to climb down the side of a trench. In addition to trenching accidents, excavator use can lead to cave-ins, endangering the lives of workers near them. Without proper trenching protection, the dirt can shift and collapse onto an unsuspecting worker. Workers may be at risk if they enter a trench while excavation is still underway.

Buckets or Debris

Falling debris poses a significant risk to both the excavator operator and nearby pedestrians. Material from a load could dislodge and strike workers or civilians located too close to the machine. Likewise, the debris could strike an operator if they use an open cab excavator.

Besides the falling debris, buckets can pose a serious threat to safety and well-being. An operator unaware of a nearby pedestrian could strike or crush them when turning or lowering the bucket arm. An operator could also put themselves at risk by attempting to leave an active machine with the bucket arm lowered. A simple jostling of the controls can make the arm lower unexpectedly and crush anyone beneath it.

How to Avoid Injury When Working With a Quick Coupler

The best way to avoid injury when working with a quick coupler device is by staying vigilant and aware of your surroundings. When you let your guard down or attempt to cut corners, you place yourself in harm’s way. Fortunately, the number of incidents involving quick coupler devices has decreased significantly in recent years. This is because manufacturers have gone out of their way to make the devices safer to use. Most manufacturers of these devices have come up with some type of locking pins that do not allow for an unexpected release. However, not all employers have switched over to the safer models of these devices and incidents can still occur if the safety devices are not installed correctly or maintained. Some other precautions to take include:

• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for installation, maintenance, and use for these devices.

• Inspect quick coupler devices before use. Look for locking pins or other safety devices that will prevent an unexpected release of a bucket or attachment. Ensure both the device as well as the safety devices are properly installed and functioning.

• Never work directly under or close to an excavator bucket or attachment, even if there are safety pins in the quick coupler device. Avoiding the line of fire ensures that even if something does fail no one will be in the area where the bucket lands.

• Communicate to fellow coworkers when quick coupler devices are used, so they are aware of the additional hazard while working around the excavator.

Summary

As is the case with any heavy machinery, working with an excavator places the user and the people around at risk. By following the tips mentioned above, you greatly lower your chances of suffering an injury while at the worksite.