When on the lookout for earthmoving services it's important to find someone you can trust and who knows what they are doing. At Dingo Mini Diggers, we are a family owned and operated earthmoving Canberra business with years of local knowledge and experience. In this post, we will discuss exactly what earthmoving covers as well as the potential dangers and hazards involved.
What is earthmoving?
Earthmoving is, well, exactly that. Moving pieces of earth. It may involve site preparation, landscaping, rubbish removal or excavation. Where many sites have easy access and plenty of room to work with, others come with their list of complications, such as tight spaces, uneven ground, underground pipes or cables and overhead power lines. Or all of the above! It's important to have your earthmover carry out a thorough site inspection and list all visible hazards, as well as the unseen dangers lurking beneath the earth before they dig.
An experienced quality earthmover is like a magician. They can transform a rugged and rocky hillside into smooth, level ground. Although it's possible to hire earthmoving equipment and have a crack at it yourself, it's wise to just pay an expert to do it for you. It will save you lots of time, headaches and possibly money as well if any damage were to happen to the equipment (which happens a lot!).
The dangers of earthmoving
A common mistake earthmoving operators make is not checking the ground for stability. Soft earth can cause a machine to tip or roll over. Same goes for the level. If the operator misjudges a slope the machine can tip over and roll over backwards. This is a common error. And a dangerous one at that.
As well as watching out for what's below, it's important to be aware of what's above. Many earthmoving machines come with a boom which means you could hit power lines and get electrocuted. Another danger is trees and dead branches that could fall down. A good rule of thumb is to keep a distance of at least 10 feet away from power lines and tree branches.
The most important thing to watch out for is people. Make sure everyone is clear before backing up or moving the machine at all. Always remain vigilant of your surroundings. On a busy site, you may want a spotter who can watch out for and direct any human traffic.
The importance of maintaining equipment
Another crucial factor when moving earth is the maintenance of the machines used. Bulldozers, bobcats and excavators must be fully operational during a dig for if one were to break down on site it creates a massive hazard on its own.
A common reason for a machine's operation to fail is the parts not being properly lubricated. Regularly checking and lubricating all moving parts will ensure its operation and increase the longevity of the machine. Also important is to check on the type of lubrication recommended by the manufacturer of the machine.
You must pay attention to wear and tear and follow a maintenance schedule. Checking and repairing machinery every once in a while isn't enough to keep equipment in tip-top shape. Get to know your machine and how the different parts work and operate. Making yourself a checklist of all the parts of your machinery is wise. And then another checklist of parts to fix and tick off as you execute.
How to choose an earthmover
So, as you can see earthmoving comes with no shortage of its risks and dangers. As such, it's important to choose someone who knows what they're doing. At Dingo Mini Diggers, our in-depth knowledge of the industry and the Canberra area sets us apart from the competition. Not only that but we specialise in tight sports and have built a reputation as Canberra's confined space experts. This means that no job is too hard for us. Plus, being family owned and operated and part of the Canberran community allows a sense of trust you'd get from a neighbourhood friend.
And if that's not enough, you'll find our rates super competitive! Find out how we can help you today.