HSE looks to revise tracked crusher law

The HSE is considering outlawing operatives from standing on  tracked crushers whilst they are in use – whether on an access platform, walkway or otherwise.

Accidents occurring under such circumstances are already closely scrutinised, whether that be death or injury cause by whole body vibration, a strike from the excavator bucket or rubble falling from it, or from the operative falling into the crusher jaws. Indeed the issue of operatives stood on tracked mobile crushers has been on the HSE’s radar for some time and is indeed one of the problems that we have tried to solve with the large, robust jaw designs on our  BAVTRAK range. Lager jaw feeds help avoid bridging of material and the very strong crusher box designs resist damage from accidental inclusion of tramp iron.

Guidance for demolition sites is also likey to suggest that where the content of the feed material is in question - and large inclusions of metal are considered a high risk - processing before feeding into a tracked crusher using excavator mounted crusher buckets or jaws may be a more sensible option. The operator is better able to see and control the material and less liekly to incur damage to the plant and it removes the risk of damage to conveyor belts from reinforcing wires and other metals.