On any building site time is of the essence. No matter the situation, the location, the details of the project, it is likely that there will be a tight deadline to meet and precious time to take care of the little details. Everything must be perfect, and ideally, completed correctly the very first time. One of the most popular and most commonly used pieces of machinery on a construction site is the mini excavator. You may have hired mini excavators for your upcoming project, and have the contractors in place to perform the tasks at hand, but how can you build a basic understanding of operating a mini excavator that ensures standards remain high, that tasks are completed satisfactorily, within deadline and as safely as possible?
How to use a mini excavator
A mini excavator is (obviously) smaller and lighter than a regular excavator. It offers the operator greater versatility and can perform a variety of functions with relative ease. They come in a few different sizes and weights, so always speak to your plant hire contract contact to discuss the specifications of your project and which mini excavator hire is the best fit for your specific needs.
To ensure thesafe use of the mini excavator, use the control lever to lower the blade until it has tilted the machine up. Once this position has been found, use the throttle for power (start with half power if it is the first time using a mini excavator until you are comfortable in control). To start excavating, position the primary stick halfway extended and then use the bucket control to angle the bucket. From this position, you can lower the boom until the teeth of the bucket hit the ground. The stick is then pulled to dig into the earth, with the controls used to lift the teeth or to maintain the grade you are at for digging as long as needed.
What to use a mini excavator for on-site
With a few mini excavator attachments to choose from too, you’ll find that a mini excavator is perfect for a wide range of construction site tasks. These tasks include:
- Digging holes
- Landscaping
- Demolition jobs
- Installing outdoor structures
Whatever tasks you are using a mini excavator for, always ask for the expert advice of your plant hire provider, study the training manuals, ensure the excavator is maintained and fit for purpose and check the balance and load capacity before use.
Once you have a handle on how to properly operate a mini excavator and your contractors have all the knowledge to perform tasks safely and effectively, they can be a great benefit to any site that you are working on. Mini excavator hire helps any project manager to have the means to work in tight spaces, on difficult terrain and to perform those necessary tasks that keep a construction project moving forward at all times. There is never much time to learn and to take time over certain aspects of a construction task, as deadlines are always incredibly tight, but with the guidance of a plant hire company in the UK that knows its onions, you’ll have access to mini excavator hire that utilises the best equipment, the best training and the best maintenance and repair processes.
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