ACCIDENT PREVENTION REGULATIONS FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED EXCAVATORS

The safety and accident-prevention regulations valid in the respective country must be observed.

The following requirements are based on extracts from the German accident prevention regulations "Electrical Systems (VBG 4)".

The installation, modification and repair of the electromechanical component of electrical systems and components must be delegated only to qualified electricians or firms employing such experts.

A "qualified electrician" in the context of this regulation is a person who, on the basis of specialized training, know-how and experience as well as knowledge of the relevant regulations, is in a position to judge the extent of the work assigned to him and to recognize any potential hazards.

The machine owner/contractor must inform all persons working on electrical installations and components or in the vicinity of components conducting electricity during operation, or who are responsible for the operation of electrical systems, of the potential danger of electricity and must instruct them on the accident prevention regulations relevant to their work. Instruction in safety measures is to be repeated at intervals appropriate to the operating conditions. If necessary, special working regulations must be displayed.

The excavator and its electrical systems must be adequately protected against other potential hazards of electricity, e.g. fire and explosion.

Electrical systems and components must be protected against electric shock in the case of a fault, e.g. short circuit to exposed conductive part.

Any parts of the electrical system conducting current when in operation must be housed in lock-up switchgear cabinets. Hazard warning signs are displayed on these lock-up cabinets.

Voltage Hazard

The switchgear cabinets must be secured against unauthorized opening. The key must be kept by the electrician in charge.

Electrical systems and components must not be used unless they comply with the operational and local safety requirements. They must be in an orderly state and must be kept in such a state.

Any defects or malfunctions occurring in electrical systems or components must be reported to the electrician in charge.

Before switching on any systems, the excavator operator must check that no one is working on the machine or its electrical systems.

The heavy-duty power cable must never be driven over, buried or ripped away. The excavator equipment must never be set down on the power cable. When the excavator is being moved, the cable must never be pulled or dragged over the ground.

Whenever work is being carried out on electrically powered excavators, the general rules of engineering - especially those concerning low and medium voltage - must be observed. Regulations such as those issued by the German VDE, e.g. specification VDE 0100, should be observed.

<A>Before commencing any work on electrical systems and components, the electrician in charge (or an electrician appointed by him) must switch the power off all circuits and lock them in the OFF state as follows:

Switch voltage OFF all systems.

Check with voltage detectors that all systems are voltage-free.

Lock switches/systems to prevent them from being switched ON.

The above procedures must be carried out in the given sequence.