When this template fits
This RAMS is for plant operators and groundworkers running a 360-degree excavator on earthworks, drainage and lifting duties, on sites where the principal contractor expects the quick-hitch and slew-radius risks dealt with explicitly. Quick-hitch failures and people struck in the slew zone are recurring causes of excavator fatalities, so a competent RAMS has to name those controls. It covers the machine in both digging and lifting modes and the checks a reviewer looks for before signing it off.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 9 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 9-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Operate 360 excavators for digging and material handling.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task planning: Obtain and review utility records, carry out ground conditions assessment, establish exclusion zones and site traffic management arrangements. Confirm a permit-to-dig is in place where required. Review and brief all operatives on the task-specific RAMS.
- 2Operator competence check: Verify the excavator operator holds a current, valid CPCS or NPORS competence card for the 360 excavator category. Complete site induction and task briefing including service locations, exclusion zones and emergency procedures.
- 3Pre-use inspection: Carry out a documented pre-use inspection of the excavator including checks on hydraulic systems, tracks, controls, cab condition, mirrors, ROPS/FOPS, horn, reversing alarm, lights and any lifting attachments. Record findings and report defects before commencing.
- 4Set up and positioning: Position the excavator on firm, level and stable ground. Maintain the required standoff distance from excavation edges. Mark service routes clearly on the ground. Erect physical exclusion zone barriers. Deploy banksman/slinger-signaller if required.
- 5Commencement of excavation: Begin excavation in accordance with the dig plan. Hand-dig within 500mm of confirmed or suspected buried services. Deposit spoil at a safe distance from excavation edges as directed by the competent person.
- 6Ongoing monitoring: Inspect excavation sides and ground conditions at regular intervals and after any event that may affect stability (rain, vibration, change in material). Maintain exclusion zone integrity throughout operations. Ensure water suppression is applied in dusty conditions.
- 7Material handling and lifting (where applicable): Confirm a current lift plan and LOLER thorough examination certificates are in place for all lifting accessories. Only undertake lifts within rated capacity. Use a competent slinger/signaller. Maintain exclusion beneath all suspended loads.
- 8End-of-shift procedures: Park the excavator on firm, level ground away from excavation edges. Lower the bucket/attachment to the ground. Apply the parking brake. Remove and secure ignition keys in the key register. Carry out a visual inspection of the excavation and surrounding area before leaving the site.
- 9Incident and near-miss reporting: All incidents, near-misses and dangerous occurrences (including underground service strikes or machine instability events) must be reported to the site supervisor immediately and recorded. Reportable injuries and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Plant-pedestrian collision
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Establish and maintain a clearly defined exclusion zone around the excavator equal to at least the maximum swing radius plus a safety buffer. Use physical barriers (Heras fencing, banksman-controlled barriers) to prevent unauthorised entry.
- › Implement a site traffic management plan segregating plant and pedestrian routes. Designate banksman/slinger-signaller when pedestrians or other plant must work within or near the exclusion zone.
- › Fit the excavator with an audible reversing alarm and consider radar/proximity detection systems. Ensure spotters/banksmen are used when visibility is restricted.
- › All persons on site must wear high-visibility vests or jackets (minimum Class 2) to ensure visibility to the excavator operator at all times.
Overturning/machine instability
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Competent person must assess ground bearing capacity before positioning the excavator. Use spreader plates or engineered matting where ground is soft, waterlogged or made-up. Avoid positioning on slopes exceeding manufacturer's rated gradient.
- › Maintain minimum safe standoff distance from excavation edges as determined by ground conditions and a competent person's assessment. Never allow the machine to operate with tracks or outriggers positioned over unsupported excavation edges.
- › Conduct daily pre-use inspection per PUWER. Do not exceed manufacturer's rated lift capacity or reach. Ensure the correct lifting configuration is used for any material handling duties.
Underground services strike
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Obtain up-to-date utility records (CAT scan + Genny) before excavation commences. Issue a formal permit-to-dig referencing confirmed service locations. Expose services by hand dig within 500mm of confirmed positions.
- › Prohibit mechanical excavation within 500mm of confirmed or suspected underground services. Use hand tools exclusively within this zone.
- › Brief the excavator operator on identified service routes, depths and types prior to work commencing. Mark service routes on the ground surface with appropriate spray paint or stakes.
Excavation collapse
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › A competent person must assess the excavation and specify appropriate support systems (shoring, battering, benching) before workers enter any excavation exceeding 1.2m depth.
- › Deposit spoil and arisings at a minimum distance from the excavation edge as directed by the competent person (typically at least the depth of the excavation or 1m minimum). Avoid surcharging the edge.
- › Inspect excavations at the start of each shift, after any event likely to affect stability (e.g. heavy rain, plant vibration), and after any accidental fall of material. Records to be kept by a competent person.
Lifting operations — load failure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where the excavator is used for lifting, a written lift plan must be produced by a competent person. The machine and all lifting accessories (chains, slings, shackles) must have been subject to thorough examination under LOLER. Certification must be current.
- › Use a competent, trained and appointed slinger/signaller for all lifting operations. No load to be lifted without direct communication between operator and slinger established.
- › Ensure no person stands or passes beneath a suspended load at any time. Maintain exclusion zone around the lift area.
Noise exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Carry out a noise assessment to determine exposure levels at the operator's position and in the vicinity of the machine. Compare against lower (80 dB(A)) and upper (85 dB(A)) exposure action values.
- › Designate hearing protection zones around the excavator where noise levels exceed the upper exposure action value (85 dB(A)). Post mandatory hearing protection signage at zone boundaries.
- › Provide suitable hearing protection (ear defenders or plugs achieving adequate attenuation) to the operator and all workers required to work within hearing protection zones.
Whole-body vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where practicable, select modern excavators with manufacturer-rated low WBV levels and suspension seating. Review manufacturer vibration data sheets before procurement or hire.
- › Prepare and maintain site access routes and working platforms to reduce surface roughness and uneven ground that amplifies whole-body vibration transmission.
- › Monitor daily operator vibration exposure against EAV (0.5 m/s²) and ELV (1.15 m/s²). Rotate operators where exposure approaches action values and ensure operators take adequate breaks.
Dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use an excavator fitted with an enclosed pressurised cab incorporating a filtered HVAC system to reduce operator exposure to airborne dust. Ensure cab filters are maintained and replaced per manufacturer schedule.
- › Apply water suppression to excavated materials and arisings to reduce dust generation during handling. Dampen spoil heaps before moving.
- › Where engineering controls do not adequately reduce exposure below workplace exposure limits (e.g. during cab egress or maintenance), provide FFP3-rated RPE for operators and workers in the vicinity.
Operator competence and unauthorised use
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Only operators holding a recognised competence card (e.g. CPCS or NPORS 360 excavator category) may operate the machine. Competence cards must be checked and recorded before work commences.
- › Remove ignition keys and immobilise the excavator when unattended. Implement a key control register to prevent unauthorised use.
- › Ensure all plant operators receive a site-specific induction covering site rules, exclusion zones, service locations and emergency procedures before commencing operations.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
Competence
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › 360-degree tracked or wheeled excavator with rated capacity indicator
- › Quick-hitch coupler with locking pin/device
- › Buckets and attachments certified for the machine
- › Certified lifting eye and LOLER-examined slings for pipe lifts
- › CAT and Genny for service detection
- › Exclusion-zone barriers and goal posts
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ The quick-hitch type is named and the RAMS states the locking pin/device is confirmed after every attachment change — a silent quick-hitch is the first thing a competent reviewer queries.
- ✓ An exclusion zone covering the full slew radius is specified, not just 'keep clear of the machine'.
- ✓ If the excavator lifts, the certified lifting point, rated capacity indicator and LOLER examination are referenced.
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Why are quick-hitches such a high-risk item on excavators?
Semi-automatic quick-hitches rely on the operator fitting a safety pin or locking device after each attachment change, and missed or wrong-sized pins have caused buckets to fall off and kill people working nearby. The HSE issued safety alerts specifically about this, and it is one of the recognised causes of excavator fatalities. A competent RAMS must state which hitch type is fitted, that the locking device is checked after every change, and that the coupler is inspected daily. Fully automatic hitches reduce the reliance on the operator but still need checking.
Can I use an excavator to lift pipes and other loads?
Yes, but only as a planned lifting operation under LOLER. The machine must have a certified lifting point, a rated capacity indicator and hose-burst check valves, and the load must stay within the lifting chart for the working radius. You also need a trained slinger to attach the load and direct the operator, and the slings must be within thorough examination. Digging with a load chained to the bucket teeth is not lifting and is not acceptable.
What regulations apply to excavator operation?
PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, LOLER 1998 — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations are the main ones, alongside Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.