Excavating, lifting and placing with the 180° excavator
Excavation technique is about controlled, planned digging. Candidates should understand how to set a trench line, establish a safe working area, and dig in passes without overreaching. Know the difference between the bucket, arm and boom movements and how to combine them smoothly. Understand the importance of not undermining the machine, keeping the spoil heap back from the trench edge (typically at least the depth of the trench, and never closer than the manufacturer or site rules allow), and battering or supporting trench sides. Know the requirement for a competent person to inspect excavations and the rules on entry, access and egress.
Lifting is a separate competence. A 180° excavator may only lift within the rated capacity shown on the load chart for the actual configuration - radius, boom length, bucket/attachment, and ground conditions all change capacity. Use certified lifting points and slings, keep the load low, avoid shock loading and slewing with a suspended load over people, and use tag lines where needed. The safe load indicator must be understood, not ignored.
Worked example: if the load chart shows a capacity of 1.0 t at 4 m radius and your load plus attachment is 1.2 t, the lift is not permitted at that radius - reduce the radius or use a larger machine, not "a bit of judgement".
Traps: assuming the excavator's bucket capacity equals its lifting capacity, lifting with a slack or damaged sling, and slewing a suspended load over a colleague "just for a moment".