Update your knowledge and skills on this popular and versatile machine

Overview in brief

180° excavators are widely used throughout the land-based and construction industries.

Their strength is their versatility and power.

But these attributes also increase the risk of accidents when the machine is incorrectly operated.

Our course will teach you how to use a 180° excavator safely and with confidence.

The finer details

This is an integrated training and assessment course.

You’ll receive a certificate in training once it is complete.

Our experienced instructors will guide you through the key fundamentals of 180° excavator operation.

You’ll learn safety theory and all you need to know about the machine and its capabilities.

And then it’s onto a wealth of practical sessions.

You’ll be taught the operational basics, how to dig a variety of trenches and how to use a number of different attachments.

Course sessions:

• Working in the construction industry
• Components of 180° excavators
• Models of operation
• Stability of the machine
• Accident prevention
• Pre-shift checks
• Familiarisation with instruments and controls
• Starting and stopping the machine
• Operating factors
• Operating to produce trench 1m deep by 10m long by one bucket width
• Driving on the highway and transportation
• Operating to produce trench 2m deep by 5m long with battered sides
• Operating to form a simple ditch
• Operating to produce a straight trench 1m deep by 10m long using sand, lime or marker spray line
• Operating to fill a vehicle using the backactor to produce a square hole and fill vehicle
• Operating the machine: driving; use of front shovel; use of multi-purpose bucket (if applicable); use of the backactor; changing attachments/buckets
• Operating to produce trench 1m deep by 10m long with restrictions
• Site safety
• Operating to produce a trench with a square manhole
• Advanced operation to form a ditch
• Possible problems
• Advanced operation to clean a ditch.

What will be covered?

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the basic construction and components and the purpose and use of all controls and gauges
• Identify and comply with manufacturers’ instructions in accordance with the operator’s handbook, other information sources and applicable legislation (PUWER, LOLER)
• Carry out all pre-use and running checks
• Set the excavator for site and road travel
• Travel over varying types of terrain, including rough undulating ground and substantial inclines
• Manoeuvre in confined areas using forward and reverse direction
• Set the machine to excavate
• Excavate below ground level on a variety of excavations in different ground types
• Place spoil into various sizes of vehicles/hoppers
• Remove and re-attach buckets
• Place the excavator in an out-of-service condition
• Explain the loading and unloading procedures on and off a transporter.