Travelling, manoeuvring and site positioning
Travelling a 180° excavator requires the operator to understand that the machine can be driven with the bucket leading or trailing, and that on a 180° machine the upper structure may be rotated so the operator's view and the direction of travel can differ. Know the correct travel posture: bucket close to the ground, arm tucked in, boom lowered, and the machine kept stable. On slopes, travel with the bucket downhill and the heavy end uphill where the manufacturer permits; never slew or lift on a slope beyond the stated limit, and never travel across a slope steeper than the machine's rated capability.
Site positioning is about stability and reach. Set up on firm, level ground, with the tracks or wheels square to the work, the dozer blade or outriggers deployed where fitted, and enough room to slew without striking anything. Keep a safe distance from excavation edges - the spoil heap and machine weight can cause collapse - and remember the counterweight tail swing when positioning near walls, vehicles or people. Use a banksman when visibility is restricted, and obey site speed limits and one-way systems.
Rule of thumb: if you cannot see the spotter or the ground guide, stop. Never rely on mirrors alone in a congested area.
Traps include thinking the bucket must always be raised for travel, ignoring the effect of a full bucket on stability, and assuming the machine can safely work right at the edge of a trench.