Loading Shovel Safety

• Complete a pre-use inspection of the shovel before starting each shift
• Hold a valid CPCS or NPORS card for the loading shovel category
• Travel with the bucket lowered and tilted slightly back for stability
• Use a banksman where pedestrians or other plant are operating nearby
• Maintain safe distances from stockpile edges, excavations, and embankments
• Wear a seatbelt at all times while operating the loading shovel
• Sound the horn before moving off and at blind corners or junctions
• Use dust suppression when loading dry or fine materials
• Check tyres for damage, wear, and correct pressure during pre-use checks
• Segregate pedestrian routes from loading shovel operating areas

• DON'T carry passengers in the bucket or on any part of the machine
• DON'T travel with the bucket raised — it reduces visibility and stability
• DON'T load trucks beyond their rated capacity or from the cab side
• DON'T operate within two metres of an unprotected excavation or tip edge
• DON'T leave the machine with the bucket raised or the engine running unattended
• DON'T allow pedestrians to walk in the active loading zone
• DON'T use the loading shovel to lift personnel — it is not designed for this
• DON'T exceed the rated bucket capacity for the material being loaded
• DON'T operate with a cracked windscreen or non-functioning mirrors
• DON'T drive at speed over rough ground — maintain a pace appropriate to conditions

See also: Plant and Pedestrian Segregation | Reversing and Banksman Procedures