Mobile Plant Safety Overview

Mobile plant includes all self-propelled equipment used on site such as excavators, dumpers, rollers, and telehandlers.
Contact between mobile plant and pedestrians is the leading cause of fatal accidents on UK construction sites.
PUWER 1998 requires all mobile plant to be suitable, maintained, inspected, and operated by competent persons.
Only operators holding a valid CPCS, NPORS, or equivalent competence card may operate mobile plant on site.
A daily pre-use check must be completed by the operator before the machine is used each shift.
All mobile plant must have functioning safety features including seatbelts, mirrors, beacons, and reversing alarms.
Designated haul roads, speed limits, and traffic management plans must be in place before plant operations begin.
Plant movements account for over 25% of all construction worker deaths reported to the HSE each year.
Operators must be familiarised with each specific machine before first use, even if trained on the same type.
Keys must be removed and the machine isolated when parked, unattended, or left at the end of a shift.

Prevent fatalities	Being struck or crushed by mobile plant kills more construction workers than any other single cause in the UK.
Operator competence	Untrained or unfamiliarised operators make critical errors in judgement that lead to overturning and struck-by incidents.
Machine condition	Failed brakes, missing mirrors, and faulty controls have all been cited in fatal plant accident investigations.
Legal enforcement	HSE actively targets plant and pedestrian interface management during site inspections under CDM 2015 and PUWER 1998.

Do

Don't

Complete a thorough pre-use inspection of the machine at the start of every shift.
Wear the seatbelt at all times when operating any mobile plant with a ROPS cab.
Use three points of contact when mounting and dismounting the machine at all times.
Follow the site traffic management plan and observe all speed limits and one-way routes.
Ensure your CPCS or NPORS card is valid and covers the category of plant being operated.
Report any defects found during the pre-use check and take the machine out of service.
Sound the horn at blind corners, junctions, and before reversing in all situations.
Park on level ground, lower attachments, apply the handbrake, and remove the key.
Maintain full visibility around the machine — clean windows, adjust mirrors, and use cameras.
Attend the machine-specific familiarisation briefing before operating any new piece of plant.

DON'T operate any plant without a valid competence card for that machine category.
DON'T carry passengers on plant unless the machine is designed with a passenger seat.
DON'T use a mobile phone, eat, or drink while operating mobile plant on site.
DON'T drive plant across slopes that exceed the manufacturer's stated gradient limit.
DON'T leave keys in the ignition when the machine is parked or unattended.
DON'T reverse without checking mirrors, cameras, and using a banksman where required.
DON'T exceed the site speed limit — most sites are restricted to 10 or 15 mph.
DON'T operate plant with broken mirrors, faulty beacons, or a non-working reversing alarm.
DON'T jump down from the cab — always use the steps and handholds provided.
DON'T refuel with the engine running or near ignition sources including cigarettes.

See also: Plant and Pedestrian Segregation | Plant Pre-Use Inspections

Presenter		Project
Location		Date

Toolbox Talk Record