The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety notice concerning the failure of control lever isolation devices on excavators.
It is aimed at excavator owners, suppliers, hirers, and operators across the construction, quarrying, and related industries.
There have been incidents where excavators moved unexpectedly because the control lever isolation device failed to prevent operation of the machine. This has resulted in unintended machine movements, creating a serious risk of injury or fatality to operators and nearby workers.
Where the isolation device does not function correctly, the following risks may arise:
For the purposes of this safety notice, the HSE has stated that isolation devices must provide reliable prevention of excavator movement whenever they are engaged. A device that appears to be active but does not isolate the controls effectively is considered unsafe.
Operators, owners, and suppliers should ensure that all excavators are fitted with fully functioning control lever isolation devices that prevent unintentional movement. Excavators without effective isolation devices should not be used until faults are rectified and safety verified.
The HSE advises that excavator duty holders should review their fleets and confirm that all control lever isolation systems are designed, installed, and maintained to a safe standard. Any identified failures must be reported and corrected immediately.
Duty holders must also carry out suitable risk assessments, covering all operating conditions, to ensure isolation devices prevent movement under every intended use. Training and supervision should reinforce that operators test isolation devices before use and never rely on defective equipment.
For more information, see:
