Loading, discharging, tipping and stability awareness
Load within the limits
Stability depends on keeping the centre of gravity low and inside the machine's stability triangle. Never exceed the rated payload, distribute the load evenly, and do not heap material against the cab or over the top of the skip. Wet, loose or shifting loads move as you travel and brake, so slow down and avoid sudden steering. Tyre condition and pressure, ground bearing strength and side slope all reduce the margin you have left.
Tipping safely
Before tipping: stop on firm, level ground, check the area behind and around the skip is clear of people, check for overhead power lines and obstructions, and make sure no one is in the discharge zone or at the edge of a tip. Raise the skip smoothly, discharge at a controlled forward creep where appropriate, then lower the skip fully before moving. Never travel with the skip raised, never tip with one wheel on a slope or soft ground, and never tip over an edge without stop blocks or a banksman.
Being loaded
When an excavator loads you, stay in the cab if it is protected and instructed, or stand well clear; never stand in the skip, never let the bucket pass over the cab, and load over the rear where possible. Wait until the bucket is clear before moving off.
Traps
- "A little over the payload is fine" - it is not; it is the most common cause of dumper overturns.
- Tipping with the machine twisted or on a side slope.
- Assuming the driver behind can see you when you reverse into the discharge position.
Rule of thumb
Clear the area, level ground, skip low, then tip - in that order, every time.