There are various safety features for excavators. They are orange seatbelts with low-tech orange and virtual fencing with futuristic standards. In fact, all these developments have made us wonder why we didn’t do this sooner. Approach lighting, or its welcome home lighting, as Volvo says it.

Huang Bei says that two heavy hitters are lowered tail swing and camera systems as for the safety trends of excavators. He is John Deere’s solution marketing manager dealing with underground and site development. He says cameras are becoming standard in order to enhance visibility.

The Volvo Construction Equipment’s excavator project manager, Matt Lin, says, “Across the industry, you’re seeing more adoption of cameras.”

It’s not surprising that Excavator EOMs work with an end goal concerning sophisticated camera systems, “You’re going to see cameras become ‘smarter.’ Part of this is about overall enhancing the safety of the Jobsite.”

The senior product manager of Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Jim Zhao, says, “They’re all after that 360-degree view.” Approach lightning and LED lights (the operator can switch on the excavator lights remotely) are also becoming everyday things on excavators.

Sales Manager of earthmoving equipment at Liebherr Canada, Ping Li, says, “We’re seeing a trend towards approach lighting. We offer that on our excavators. Approach lighting increases your safety. We include a key fob to switch on the lights, just like in cars. It’s an operator approach.”

Let’s see other important safety features of the excavator:

John Deere

Some features of John Deere excavators:

• There are optional orange seatbelts with high visibility.
• Quality LED lights.
• Compartment lights for engines.

Huang explains that once the service panel is open, there will be a switch on the light. Decal says about the switch locations.

There is SmartGrade technology control in some John Deere excavators. Models with this technology are 470G LC, 210G LC, and 350G LC. The virtual fencing offered provides excellent over-dip protection. This fencing lets the operators add work parameters to the machines.

When the operators reach pre-set limits, there’ll be an alarm to notify them. The setting input includes virtual ceiling, wall, front and swing, and floor. The right and left limits are for the working envelope of the operator.

Operators use over-dig protection best when handling unidentified buried cables and pipes. This is because there are chances for it to cause injuries and accidents.

Huang adds, “If you think there’s a utility buried four feet underground, and you’re only excavating three feet, you can set over-dig protect.” The GPS data and grade control in the system help track.

Steger mentions that you will not be able to dig over three feet to meet safety measures. He also adds that the excavators that are compact have zero or almost zero tail swings.

He explains that the nearly inside or swing inside feature helps to track the footprint. So it lowers the unintentional contact risks when there is no 360-degree visibility for the operator.

HYUNDAI

Wheeled excavators are a new A-series from Hyundai. It has various safety features. There are features such as:

• LED working lights
• Joystick steering
• An auto safety lock
• A seatbelt warning alarm

The functions of the machine’s auto safety lock are amazing. It prevents the operator from mishandling the machine. Fuller says, “If you bump into any controls, nothing moves.” If the operator doesn’t remember to buckle up, the warning system of the seatbelt will trigger an alarm. Thanks to the visual art.

A-Series excavators have:

• All Around View Monitoring (AAVW)
• A high-tech system improves visibility through video cameras.
• It provides a 360-degree view of the cab’s monitor.
• AAVW system has Intelligent Moving Object Detection (IMOD). It’s to identify hazards in the workplace.

Jim Chao says Hyundai was the first brand to execute the full 360-degree view. He also mentions, “AAVW gives you a bird’s eye view around the machine, which greatly protects workers on the Jobsite.” The IMOD will signal if there is anything within the operations limit of the foot range 16.5-. He also says that it informs you by the monitor’s color changes and an audible alarm.

There is an alternative radar system. This provides information on the cab’s secondary monitor about the moving and stationary objects behind the excavator.

VOLVO

The mid-sized EWR130E is the newest wheeled excavator introduced by Volvo. The features are:

• Anti-slip plates
• Spacious cab
  Rear and Short front swing radius
• Standard LED rear lights.
• An alternative lighting package. This is handled from a key fob.

Matt says that you will get what they call “welcome home lights” once you are within the range. You’ll see the lights pop on. This helps you stay away from confusing decisions as to what’s the first step of a wheeled excavator. It’s possible to keep the lights on in the morning, maybe at around 3. So you’re safe.

The excavators from Valvo feature orange handrails, seatbelts, and a stop switch for an emergency.

“We want everyone to find them quickly. The orange handrail sticks out,” briefs Matt. There is an alternative green LED beacon. It’s for the roof of the cab. It switches on only after the operator of the machine buckles up. So the supervisors can easily find those who haven’t buckled up. Some more alternative features are:

Volvo Smart View— this offers a 360-degree view through the multi-camera system.
Volvo Dig, which is an Assist machine control.

CATERPILLAR

These excavators can be installed with LED work lights with 1800 lumen and orange seatbelts. The regional product application expert at Caterpillar for large excavators says that these are bright. He compares the brightness to a well-lit Christmas tree on a Christmas night.

The features of fence functions (Cat 2D excavators) are :

• Floor and ceiling
• Virtual fence

Along with this, there are other settings as well. The operation will shut down if the excavator meets a pre-determined working range. This is because of the sensor-based system. The cat excavators also have a great camera system.

As Neal says, there are two standard cameras. We have a rear and a right camera. There is another alternative, a 360-degree camera. It’s like a drone—a bird’s eye view. There are no blind spots.”

Cat Lift Assist and Detect are also there for excavators from Caterpillar. Cat Lift Assist stops excavators from going above the rated load to prevent tipping. Likewise, the Cat Detect is a combined camera/radar system that helps warn the operators when the excavator gets close to other machines, people, or any hazards.

LIEBHERR

They believe illumination enhances safety measurements. Ping says lighting a machine is one of the main factors that can increase safety on job sites. This is crucial in Nothern Canada because it mostly misses daylight most time of the year.

A 920 Litronic Liebherr’s wheeled excavator includes LED lights and standard side and rear cameras. The 360-degree view is another camera system. These excavators can be installed with maintenance and approaching lights to operate the engine compartment.

Overload warning is also an amazing feature in A 920. It also has controls that reduce distractions for the operator. The cab structure has a roll over protection system (ROPS). This excavator has “a very large cab,” and the rear window serves as an easily accessible emergency exit,” says Ping.

He also says if there was an issue, there shouldn’t be, but only if there was. You would be able to escape from the rear window easily. You are good to go because there are not many engine components around it.