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Tractor Operation & SafetySafe Use of a Backhoe
A backhoe can dig faster than any shovel, and it can also hurt people in ways that are easy to miss. Planning, stabilizing and clearing the area come first.
Key points
- Call 811 before digging and wait for markings.
- Fully lower the stabilizers on firm ground, and keep everyone out of the swing zone.
- Never enter an unprotected trench or stand at its edge.
- Lock the backhoe in transport position before driving.
What should you do before you start digging?
Call 811 before you dig, and wait for the utilities to mark their lines. Buried gas, electric, water and communication lines may be shallower than you expect, and a bucket tooth can cut them in a moment. Then check the site for slopes, soft ground, overhead lines and nearby buildings or fences.
Walk the area and think through where you will put the spoil pile, where the tractor will sit and how you will get in and out. A small plan prevents a lot of improvising.
- Call 811 and wait for markings
- Look up for overhead lines and down for soft ground
- Keep the spoil pile back from the edge of the trench
How do you set up and stabilize the machine?
Park on firm, level ground if you can. Lower the stabilizers fully until they hold the machine steady, and follow the manual on how to set the loader if the tractor has one. Do not dig with the stabilizers up or only partly down. A backhoe that is not planted can shift or tip as the boom swings.
Set the parking brake, put the tractor in neutral or park as the manual directs, and make sure you are seated facing the backhoe controls with the seat belt as the manual specifies. Check the controls for smooth motion before you start.
If the ground is wet or sandy, the stabilizers can sink as the work goes on, so recheck them after the first few passes.
Why is the swing zone so dangerous?
The boom, stick and bucket sweep a wide arc, and the operator is looking down at the trench, not around. A helper standing in the swing zone can be struck in an instant. Keep everyone out of the arc and out of the area behind the tractor.
Agree on signals with any helper before you begin, and shut down the engine and lower the bucket to the ground before anyone enters the work area. Never allow people to ride on the machine or in the bucket.
What are the dangers of trenches?
Trench walls can collapse without warning, and even a shallow trench can trap someone. The soil is heavy and the collapse is fast. OSHA has requirements for trenching and excavation on work sites, and the principles apply to anyone digging. Never enter an unprotected trench, and do not stand at the edge where the soil can crumble.
If a person must enter a trench, follow OSHA guidance and your state's rules, which call for protective systems and a competent person. For a homeowner, the safer answer is to dig the trench from the top and let a qualified contractor handle any work that needs someone to go inside.
Keep children, visitors and pets well back from any open excavation, and fill or fence it before you leave for the day.
How do you operate the controls safely?
Move the levers smoothly. Jerky movements bounce the machine and stress the boom. Dig within the manual's reach and depth limits and stay away from the edge of the cut. When the bucket is full, lift and swing slowly and dump on the spoil pile away from the trench.
Raise the backhoe to its transport position and lock it before you move the tractor. Check that the pins and the transport lock are secure, because a boom that drops during travel can strike people or tip the machine.
What should you check before and after use?
Inspect hoses, cylinders, pins and bushings for leaks and wear. Do not check for hydraulic leaks with your hand, since escaping fluid can inject into the skin. Grease points as the manual directs and look at the bucket teeth and mounting.
At the end of the job, lower the bucket to the ground, raise the stabilizers if you plan to move, shut off the engine and take the key. Cover or flag any open trench, especially if children, livestock or neighbors may walk by.
When is it better to hire a contractor?
Deep trenches, work near utilities, large septic or foundation projects and anything that requires someone to enter an excavation are jobs for trained professionals with the proper equipment and insurance. A small drainage ditch on your own pasture is a different case from a deep utility trench along a road.
If you are unsure, ask your extension office, local building or health department, or an insurance agent about requirements before you start.
Sources and further reading
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