Digging Safely with Equipment

Digging with a tractor-mounted backhoe or auger feels simple until a line is hit or an edge gives way. A good plan before the first bucket goes in prevents most of the trouble.

Key points

Call 811 before every dig and ask about private lines.
Set up on level, firm ground with stabilizers down.
Put spoil far from the edge and keep everyone out of the swing zone.
Know what to do if a utility line is struck.
Hire a pro for deep, wet or utility-heavy work.

What should you do before you dig?

Call 811 before any digging, including posthole boring and trench work. Wait for utilities to mark their lines, and respect the marks. Ask the landowner about private lines for water, power, fuel, irrigation and drain tile, since these are often not marked.

Plan the job on paper: where the hole or trench goes, where the spoil goes and where the machine will sit. Walk the area for slopes, soft spots, overhead lines and nearby buildings.

Call 811 first
Ask about private lines
Plan the dig and the spoil pile
Check slopes and overhead lines

How do you set up the machine?

Park on level, firm ground and set stabilizers or outriggers as the manual directs, on pads if the ground is soft. Lower the loader, set the brake and follow the backhoe's setup procedure. Know where the swing zone is.

Keep the engine and hydraulics warmed and working smoothly. Check hoses for wear before you start. Never use the bucket as a lifting device unless the manual says it is rated for it.

On a five-acre homestead the machine may be a small tractor with a backhoe on the back. Those setups are lighter and tip more easily, so keep the load small, dig close to the machine rather than reaching far out, and do not swing a full bucket across a slope.

Where do you put the spoil pile?

Keep spoil well back from the edge of the hole. Weight near the edge can collapse the wall. Put it where it will not block your exit, hide a hazard or wash back in with rain. Keep tools and equipment back too.

Leave a clear path for people to get out of the hole if anyone has to enter it, and read the trenching article before anyone goes in.

Spoil well back from the edge
Keep exits clear
Consider rain runoff
Keep tools and equipment back

How do you keep people safe around digging?

Nobody stands inside the swing radius of a backhoe or loader. Make sure the operator can see anyone near the work, and agree on signals. Use barriers or flags around open holes, and keep children and animals away.

Never let a person stand in the hole while the machine is working. If someone needs to check depth or a line, shut down the machine, lower the bucket to the ground, and set the brake before they approach.

If the hole will stay open, mark it with flags or fencing and fill it or cover it before dark. Cattle, children and a driver in a hurry all find open holes at the wrong time.

What if you hit a line?

Stop. Shut down if it is safe, and keep everyone clear. If you hit an electrical line, stay in the cab and follow the power line advice. If you hit a gas line, move people upwind and away on foot, and call 911 and the gas company from a safe distance. Do not start anything that could spark.

Never try to repair a utility line yourself or bury it again. Report every hit to the utility, even if it seems minor, since damage can cause problems later.

Stop and keep people clear
Gas: move upwind and call 911
Electric: stay put and call
Report every strike

What about posthole augers?

An auger can catch clothing and pull a person in quickly. Keep hands, boots and loose clothing clear, and never hold the auger with your hands while it turns. Stand to the side, and shut down fully to clear soil or roots.

Watch for rocks and roots that can kick the auger or the tractor. Keep the machine in a stable position and the three-point hitch in good shape per the manual.

When should you hire a pro?

Deep digging, work near utilities, wet or unstable soil, and anything with people inside a trench is a job for trained, equipped contractors. Check with your insurance agent and your extension office or USDA NRCS if the project involves drainage, ponds or soil conservation.

A short consultation costs less than a bad day.

Whenever someone suggests going down into the hole to take a look, that is the moment to stop and bring in help.

When to get help: For underground lines call 811, and for private lines ask the landowner and your utilities. For deep or unstable excavations, hire a licensed excavation contractor and ask your insurance agent about coverage.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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