Safety Alert: The Most Hazardous Excavator Bucket Practices

Excavator attachments have come a long way, turning machines into multi-tasking powerhouses on construction sites across Australia. But with greater capability comes greater responsibility, especially when it comes to safety. While most operators do the right thing, there are still a few unsafe habits that creep in. Left unchecked, they can put people, projects and heavy equipment at serious risk.

At Hogan Engineering, we’ve spent decades working with crews of all shapes and sizes across the construction industry, and we’ve seen firsthand how quickly things can go wrong when safety practices slip. In this article, we’ll take you through some of the most dangerous habits we see with excavator bucket attachments and more importantly, show you some alternatives to improve occupational safety on your job site.

Don’t Transport Loose Attachments Inside a Bucket

It’s surprisingly common to see smaller attachments loaded into a larger bucket for transport. At a glance, it might seem like a tidy and efficient way to get everything on the float. But unless those items are strapped down, it’s a recipe for disaster. On a moving machine or trailer, unsecured attachments can shift, fall, or dislodge completely, especially during loading and unloading.

The Safer Alternative

Always treat attachments like individual pieces of gear. If you’re transporting them, secure them properly to the float using straps, chains or restraints that meet the requirements in the Load Restraint Guide. If you absolutely need to place them inside a bucket, make sure they’re tightly secured to the bucket itself before anything moves. Most importantly, your crew should have clear processes around transport to avoid the risk of serious injury. No one should be improvising when it comes to safety.

Don’t Stand Near or Under a Raised Bucket

It might seem harmless to duck under a bucket for a quick visual check or to help guide positioning, but this kind of shortcut can have devastating consequences. Even a small bucket can weigh hundreds of kilos, and much more when loaded. If anything goes wrong, there’s no second chance.

The Safer Alternative

Buckets should always be lowered to the ground before anyone gets near them. That includes inspections, maintenance, and any attachment or detachment work. Excavator operators and ground workers need a clear communication system so that everyone knows when it’s safe to enter the work zone. There should be no assumptions, no guesswork, just safe, clear protocols that keep people out of harm’s way.

Don’t Skip the Safety Pin or Use the Wrong Attachment

Quick hitches have changed the game when it comes to switching attachments, but they’re only as safe as the person using them. Skipping the locking pin or fitting an excavator attachment that doesn’t match the coupler is a fast track to failure. Even small discrepancies in pin size or spacing can stop the hitch from locking properly, and that’s exactly when things go wrong.

The Safer Alternative

Follow the hitch manufacturer’s instructions to the latter. Use only attachments that are approved and compatible with your specific quick hitch. If your hitch relies on a locking pin, don’t move the machine until it’s fully inserted. Better yet, consider upgrading to a fully automatic hitch system that doesn’t require manual pins. These extra steps might take a few minutes but they could prevent a major incident.

Don’t Assume the Operator Can See You

It’s easy to forget just how many blind spots an excavator has, especially when you’ve worked around them for years. But the truth is, visibility from the cab can be limited, and assuming the excavator operator can see you is a risk you just don’t need to take. Miscommunication between operators and ground crew is one of the most common factors in preventable site incidents, so ensuring that nobody becomes complacent when it comes to what the operator can or cannot see is a must.

The Safer Alternative

Establish exclusion zones with physical barriers wherever possible and make it clear that no one enters unless they’ve got confirmation from the operator. Two-way radios or simple hand signals are effective warning devices and methods of communication to make sure everyone stays in sync. And when it’s time for someone to enter a hazard zone — like the slew radius — the machine should be stopped, controls disengaged, and the operator’s hands off the levers.

Don’t Neglect Daily Checks on Buckets and Quick Hitches

We get it—mornings on-site are busy. But skipping your daily pre-start inspection is a shortcut that could come back to bite you. Buckets and quick hitches endure a lot of wear and tear, and even minor issues can escalate quickly if left unchecked.

The Safer Alternative

Build a proper pre-start routine and stick to it. Check the general condition of your bucket and hitch, inspect welds and wear points, and make sure the attachment is fully secured before use. If you’re running a quick coupler, perform a connection test to make sure the hitch is engaged. It’s five minutes of your day that could prevent a serious failure during machine operation, and it’s always worth it.

Trust Hogan Engineering for Australia’s Most Reliable Excavator Attachments

We’re not just here to build buckets, we’re here to make your excavator safer, smarter and better suited to the work you do every day. Whether you’re after a new attachment, a custom solution, or just honest advice from people who know their gear, we’re here to help.

At Hogan Engineering, we’ve been helping businesses and operators of all shapes and sizes get the most out of their machines for decades. With an extensive range of excavator attachments, from excavator buckets of all shapes and sizes to auger heads, lifting eyes, and more, we make it easy to choose the right attachments for your projects. Plus, with the ability to customise attachments to your specific needs, you’ll always have the right tool for the job when you choose Hogan Engineering.