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Plant and Equipment • Selecting the right machine is important because, unlike most other classes of machine, what appears to be the slightest increase or decrease in physical size can greatly affect a mini excavator’s sphere of application. There are three key considerations — transport, productivity and the constraints of the site.
Plant & Equipment used in excavation • PLANT is a machine that is either tracked or wheeled and used for clearing land, pushing soil, excavating or loading into trucks. It is generally something that can be ridden upon and driven whereas equipment generally refers to hand held tools or similar.
Bulldozer • used to clear land of bushes & topsoil • usually tracked • have blades, not buckets - can only push material • blades have adjustment up & down • use laser levels to control depth of cut • may use tynes to tear up ground
Excavator • -used to dig large volumes of soil & rock & load trucks • usually tracked • have backhoe bucket variable sizes • can turn 360O
Many councils stipulate the use of rock saws to minimise problems with adjacent properties.
Mini excavators 1-3 tonne • The main benefit of the mini excavator is its size. These models can squeeze through narrow gaps or gateways to work on sites that would previously have needed hand digging or where features would have required dismantling in order to gain access. • Mini excavators are also lighter so they are easier to transport. • ZTS stands for zero tail-swing. On these units the rear of the machine does not extend beyond the width of the undercarriage when slewing. This means ZTS models can be positioned next to walls for digging. • The upper housing and digging arm of a ZTS mini excavator can rotate through 180° to dump the bucket without the driver having to look back and worry about hitting anything with the back end of the housing. • Expandable undercarriages allow the machine to “breathe in” to negotiate narrow entrances and then “breathe out” to provide the stability needed to dig and lift earth. These models are useful if you need to straddle narrow trenches for pipe or cable laying.
Front End Loader • -used to load large amounts of soil onto trucks • -usually wheeled - drive on roads • -may use backhoe attachment on rear to dig smaller volumes of soil, detailed excavation & load trucks
Small wheeled loader -commonly called a Bobcat (which is just one of the available brands of loader). -used to dig small volumes of soil & rock in tight access areas. Load soil etc into trucks
variety of attachments for skid steer loaders • auger, • backhoe,
Trucks • used to remove soil/ spoil to tip or elsewhere • -rated in either m3 or tonnes.
Barge -Used for floating plant in to difficult access areas on waterfront properties
Dingo – skid steer • Dingos are different to the larger skid steer loaders. Rather than being designed primarily to lift and load, a Dingo is designed as a hydraulic power plant on wheels, to run hydraulic attachments. The Dingo’s compact size means that it is easy to transport, can get into back yards and won’t make a mess of the surrounding area.
Equipment • Equipment generally refers to handheld tools or similar. • In the following frames are common examples of typical residential construction equipment.
Laser level • Laser sends out horizontal beam • Receiver set on staff or machine to intercept beam & alert operators to current level. • Used for a variety of trades starting at excavation & through to finishing trades.
Jackhammer • Hand held rock breaking tool – light/ detailed excavating work • Pneumatic jackhammer (compressed air) – when you need extra power(grunt) usually used where access is tight.
Conveyors • Reinforced rubber belts running on rollers used to remove spoil from difficult access areas up/ down long/ steep slopes.
Rubbish Chutes move refuse easily where wheelbarrow access is not possible.
Submersible pumps • to lower water table or empty holes/ excavation of water • Submersible pumps are found in many applications, single stage pumps are used for drainage, sewage pumping, general industrial pumping and slurry pumping.
Angle Grinder and other various cutting shaping tools • Angle grinders are one of the most dangerous tools in any workplace. • Most angle grinder injuries are from metal particles lodging in the operator's eye. • However the most serious injuries are from kick-back, where the disc is thrust back violently towards the operator. • Discs can shatter or explode, sending pieces flying in all directions. • Because angle grinders are designed for grinding and not for cutting, the use of cutting discs with angle grinders exposes operators to even greater risks. • All adequate PPE must be used when operating this piece of equipment
