Participants in this program will learn the safe practices of operating a Compact Excavator. They will recognize and evaluate the hazards associated with Compact Excavators and understand the methods of operating them safely.
This program is divided into a theory portion and practical portion.
Theory Program
- The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the applicable regulations
- Components of a Compact Excavator and their function
- Operating Controls – their use and function
- Safety features and their importance
- Controlling the Working Zone
- Safe Entry and Exit
- Going up and down grades
- How to change attachments safely
- Weight distribution and compact excavator steering and stability
- Utilities overhead and underground
- Safe manoeuvring, travelling and working with an attachment
- Basics of Trenching and shoring – what the law requires
- Pre-use inspections
Each participant will be expected to write a test on the theory portion of the program, which is three hours in length.
Practical Program
There is also a practical portion of this program. Participants will be divided into groups of 4-5. Each group will spend two hours with an instructor applying the theory knowledge to a practical application. Included in this portion is:
- Review of components
- Pre-use inspection
- Maintenance checks
- Driving evaluation
- Proper method of removing, attaching and using attachments
- Refuelling
- Safe parking, starting and stopping
Each participant will be evaluated with a practical test.
We can accommodate up to 25 people in a three-hour theory program and ten to twelve people per day in the practical portion of the program.