Standard Operation Method of Excavator

(1) Pre-Operation Preparation (Safety and Equipment Inspection)

1. Personnel Preparation: Operators must hold a valid “Construction Machinery Operation Certificate”, be familiar with the structure, performance and operation manual of the excavator being operated, and have rich practical experience; wear complete personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety helmet, non-slip work clothes, protective gloves and safety shoes, and avoid wearing loose clothes that may be caught by equipment components.
2. Equipment Inspection: Walk around the machine to check for damage, oil leakage, water leakage and air leakage; check the wear condition of crawlers (or tires) and track pins, and ensure that the tension is appropriate; check the bucket teeth for wear or falling off, and tighten the bolts if they are loose; check the oil levels of engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant and brake fluid, and ensure they are within the standard range; test the safety devices (such as safety belt, reversing buzzer, fire extinguisher) to ensure they are complete and usable.
3. Operation Environment Confirmation: Clean up large obstacles, hard objects and flammable and explosive materials in the operation area; mark the underground pipelines, hidden ditches and other hidden dangers, and set up warning signs; confirm that the operation area is spacious enough, and there are no irrelevant personnel and obstacles within the rotating radius of the cab (usually ≥10m); check the surrounding terrain, and avoid operating on steep slopes (slope ≥30°) to prevent rollover.

(2) Start-Up Operation

1. The operator boards the cab safely, faces the equipment, holds the handrail firmly with both hands, steps on the pedal steadily, and is strictly prohibited from jumping up and down.
2. After entering the cab, fasten the safety belt, adjust the seat, backrest and armrest to a comfortable position, adjust the rearview mirror and side mirror to ensure a clear view, and confirm that all operating handles are in the neutral position.
3. Turn on the power switch, wait for the system self-inspection to complete (the self-inspection light goes out), then start the engine. The starting time shall not exceed 15 seconds. If it fails to start once, wait 30 seconds before trying again.
4. Let the engine idle for 3-5 minutes (extend to 5-8 minutes in cold weather) to preheat the hydraulic system and engine. Observe the instrument display to ensure that parameters such as oil pressure, water temperature and voltage are normal, and there are no abnormal noises or odors.
5. Test the hydraulic system and operating components: Slowly operate the boom, arm and bucket handles to make each component perform full-stroke movements 2-3 times, discharge the air in the hydraulic pipeline, and confirm that the hydraulic system operates stably without jamming or leakage; test the cab rotation function to ensure it is flexible and smooth, and the braking is effective.

(3) Core Operation (Digging, Loading, Lifting)

1. Digging Operation

1. Drive the excavator to the position to be dug, adjust the body to be parallel to the digging surface, and lower the crawler (or tires) to ensure the body is stable and not tilted.
2. Lower the bucket to the ground, align the bucket teeth with the digging point, tilt the bucket slightly backward (angle 10-15°), and slowly lower the boom while extending the arm to make the bucket teeth insert into the soil or rock.
3. After the bucket is filled with materials, retract the arm first, then lift the boom to an appropriate height (avoid touching the body or surrounding obstacles), and rotate the cab to the direction of the transport vehicle (such as a truck).
4. During digging, avoid forced digging of hard rocks to prevent damage to the bucket, boom and hydraulic system; if encountering hard objects, stop the machine immediately, use a breaker to break them, and then continue digging.

2. Loading Operation

1. Rotate the cab to align the bucket with the carriage of the transport vehicle, and adjust the height of the boom to ensure that the bucket is 30-50cm above the carriage (avoid too high or too low, which may cause material splashing or collision with the carriage).
2. Slowly tilt the bucket forward to unload the materials into the carriage, and shake the bucket slightly to ensure that all materials are unloaded, without residual materials in the bucket.
3. After unloading, retract the arm, lower the boom, rotate the cab back to the digging position, and repeat the digging and loading operations. During the operation, keep the action smooth and avoid sudden acceleration, sudden braking or sharp rotation.

3. Lifting Operation

1. When lifting materials or equipment, use a special lifting hook (instead of the bucket) to ensure the lifting is stable and safe; check the lifting capacity of the excavator, and strictly prohibit overloading.
2. Slowly lift the boom to the required height, keep the lifted object stable, and avoid swinging or rotating the cab too fast; during lifting, no one is allowed to stand under the lifted object or within the swing range.
3. When lowering the lifted object, slowly lower the boom and retract the arm, and place the object gently on the designated position to avoid collision and damage.

(4) Driving Operation

1. Before driving, confirm that the boom is lifted to an appropriate height (the bucket is 50-100cm off the ground), and the cab is rotated to the direction of travel.
2. Crawler excavators: Adjust the travel lever to the forward or reverse position, and step on the accelerator slowly to drive at a constant speed (the speed is usually 2-5km/h). Avoid sudden acceleration, sudden braking and sharp turns; when turning, slow down and turn the travel lever gently.
3. Wheeled excavators: Shift the gear lever to the corresponding gear, release the handbrake, and step on the accelerator slowly to drive. The driving speed shall not exceed 15km/h, and avoid driving on soft or uneven roads.
4. When going uphill, shift to low gear, keep the engine speed stable, and avoid sliding backward; when going downhill, shift to low gear, use engine compression braking to decelerate, and严禁 coasting in neutral.

(5) Post-Operation Finishing

1. Drive the excavator to a flat, hard and water-free safe area, lower the bucket to the ground, unload the equipment load, and turn off all operating components.
2. Let the engine idle for 3-5 minutes to cool the engine and hydraulic system, then turn off the engine, pull out the key, and close the power switch.
3. Clean the equipment: Remove the soil, gravel and other residues on the bucket, boom, arm and crawler (or tires); clean the cab, and sort out the operating tools and personal items.
4. Inspect the equipment again: Check for oil leakage, water leakage and damage; check the wear condition of bucket teeth and crawlers; fill in the “Equipment Operation Record” and “Excavator Daily Inspection Form”, and record the operation time, equipment operation status and found problems.
5. Do a good job in handover work, inform the subsequent operator of the equipment status and precautions; when parking at night, set up warning signs and turn on the warning lights to ensure safety.

(6) Operation Precautions

1. Unauthorized operation, operation after drinking, fatigue operation and operation with illness are strictly prohibited; during operation, keep focused, do not answer or make calls, and do not leave the cab without permission.
2. During operation, the rotating radius of the cab is a dangerous area, and irrelevant personnel are strictly prohibited from entering or staying; the operator must observe the surrounding environment at any time to avoid collision with people or objects.
3. Overload operation is strictly prohibited, and forced digging or lifting of hard objects is not allowed to avoid damage to the equipment; if the equipment fails, stop the machine immediately, hang a “Forbidden” sign, and contact maintenance personnel for handling, without unauthorized disassembly.
4. When operating near high-voltage lines, keep a safe distance (horizontal distance ≥3m for voltage <10kV), and it is strictly prohibited to operate under high-voltage lines without permission.
5. Regularly maintain the equipment, check and replace oil, filters and wearing parts according to the operation manual, and ensure the equipment is in good operating condition; lubricate the pivot points regularly to reduce component wear.