Emergency Procedures, Incident Reporting and Environmental Controls
Emergency procedures should be understood before an incident occurs. If the machine becomes unstable or a load shifts, the operator should lower the load if possible, stop, and follow the site's emergency plan; if a machine contacts an overhead line, the operator should stay in the cab and warn others away, and only leave if there is a fire risk, jumping clear and shuffling away without touching the machine and ground at the same time. Fire: raise the alarm, isolate power if safe, use the extinguisher only if trained and it is safe to do so, and evacuate. First aid and spill response should follow site arrangements. Incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported under the site's reporting procedure and, where the law requires, under RIDDOR - reportable categories include deaths, specified injuries, over-seven-day injuries, and dangerous occurrences such as the collapse of lifting equipment. Records should be kept and lessons shared.
Environmental controls: prevent fuel and oil spills with drip trays and bunded storage; have spill kits available; dispose of waste oils, filters and batteries through licensed carriers under the waste duty of care; control dust and noise; and avoid damaging habitats or watercourses. Question traps: candidates think near misses need not be reported (they should), or that RIDDOR covers every injury (it covers specified categories). Another trap is assuming an operator can leave a machine touching a line immediately - staying put is usually safer unless there is fire.
Rule of thumb: report every incident and near miss; for line contact, stay in the cab and keep others away unless fire forces evacuation.