Heavy Machinery

---

Duration:  4 Hours

Target Audience: Operators of skid steers, backhoes, compact loaders, and similar equipment

Regulatory Basis:

• Title 8 CCR § 1592 (Operating Rules – Earthmoving Equipment)
• Title 8 CCR § 1599 (Earthmoving Equipment – Safety Requirements)
• Title 8 CCR § 1509 (Injury Prevention – Construction)
• Title 8 CCR § 3203 (Injury and Illness Prevention Program – training)

Learning Objective:
Ensure operators can safely inspect, operate, and control heavy equipment while recognizing hazards and complying with Cal/OSHA regulations.

• Types of equipment covered:
  • Skid steers
  • Backhoes
  • Compact track loaders
• Common accident causes:
  • Rollovers
  • Struck-by incidents
  • Caught-in/between hazards
• Operator responsibilities and accountability

• Requirement for trained and competent operators
• Employer responsibilities under §3203 (IIPP)
• Safe operation rules under §1592
• Equipment guarding and safety requirements (§1599)

• Skid steer components:
  • Lift arms
  • Bucket/attachments
  • Controls (hand/foot or joystick)
• Backhoe components:
  • Loader bucket (front)
  • Backhoe boom, dipper, bucket (rear)
• Safety features:
  • ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure)
  • Seat belts
  • Backup alarms

• Rollover hazards:
  • Slopes
  • Uneven terrain
• Struck-by hazards:
  • Workers on foot
• Caught-in hazards:
  • Moving parts
• Underground/overhead hazards:
  • Utilities
  • Power lines
• Environmental hazards:
  • Weather
  • Visibility

• Walk-around inspection:
  • Tires/tracks
  • Hydraulic lines
  • Attachments
• Fluid checks:
  • Fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid
• Safety systems:
  • Lights, alarms, seat belts
  • Reporting defects and removing equipment from service

• Mounting/dismounting (3-point contact)
• Starting and shutdown procedures
• Traveling safely:
  • Speed control
  • Turning techniques
• Operating on slopes:
  • Load positioning
  • Direction of travel
  • Maintaining safe clearances

• Proper bucket use:
  • Loading/unloading
  • Carrying loads low
• Backhoe operations:
  • Trenching basics
  • Spoil pile placement
  • Equipment limitations and rated capacity
  • Use of attachments (augers, forks, breakers)

• Center of gravity concepts
• Avoiding sudden movements
• Safe operation on inclines
• Importance of seat belts and ROPS

• Pre-use inspection demonstration
• Controls familiarization
• Operating exercises:
  • Digging, loading, dumping
  • Maneuvering in tight spaces
• Safe shutdown and parking