Operate Excavators

The hydraulic excavator is one of the tools increasingly encountered in various sectors and industries, such as forestry, road construction, agriculture and mining. Training of operators is necessary to ensure the desired operating standards, operator safety and maintenance of the machine.

This excavator short skills training course has been developed for the benefit of novices and experienced operators who may be expected to operate to legally-required operating standards.
The unit standard forms part of the National Certificate:

Construction Plant Operations (SAQA ID 65789). Learners who achieve the course objectives will, upon completion of the course, be able to understand and identify the functions, main components and operating controls of the excavator, carry out daily checks, safety precautions and safe operating procedures according to legislation and company policy, and maintain the necessary documentation required by the employer.

Course Content:

• Introduction to Excavators
  • We discuss using excavators and functions of excavators.
• Getting to know the Excavator
• Basic mechanical appreciation
  • We explain why operators must know the different components of the machine, identify them and explain what the function of each one is and how to check that it is serviceable.
• Excavator safety precautions
  • We take learners through general safety precautions regarding the operation of the excavator, maintenance, protection of the machine, handling of its various dangerous components, and working in hazardous environments, such as on looser ground or on inclines.
• Daily checks and servicing
  • We discuss walk-around checks and daily service, weekly or 50 hour service, start-up checks, shutdown procedures and daily checklists for excavators.
• Controls, levers, pedals and instruments on excavators
  • We look at the controls, gauges, warning lights and warning pictorials present on the excavator.
• Operating and transporting the excavator
  • We look at operating techniques and precautions, starting the engine, shifting between forward and reverse, working on inclines, at edges of dumps or on top of large stockpiles, falling over the edge of a dump, moving forward and backward, steering, stopping machine, swing/slew, applications, parking, checks after shutdown, cleaning and transporting the machine.
• Legislation and regulations
  • We look at the legal responsibilities in a nutshell, Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and Mine Health and Safety Act of 1996.