Pre-Shift Inspection — Excavators & Skid Steers
2 hours
Learning Objectives
- •Conduct a systematic 360° pre-shift inspection of excavating equipment
- •Identify conditions that require immediate removal from service
- •Explain the OSHA basis for pre-shift inspections
- •Complete a proper inspection in 10–15 minutes
Topics Covered
- •OSHA basis: 29 CFR 1926.20 and 1926.600 — "frequent and regular" inspections by a competent person
- •Timing: before each shift and after each machine relocation
- •360° walk-around: start at a fixed point and work around the entire machine
- •Walk-around checks: leaks under the machine, structural damage, ground conditions
- •Fluid levels: engine oil, hydraulic fluid (level and color), coolant, fuel
- •Hydraulic hose inspection: damage, kinks, chafing, cracked outer cover, leaking fittings
- •Undercarriage (excavators): track tension, roller condition, sprocket wear, pin security
- •Boom, stick, bucket: structural cracks, weld seam integrity, tooth wear and security
- •Skid steer lift arms: hydraulic cylinder pins, arm pivot bolts, scissor point guards
- •Cab safety items: seat belt function, mirror alignment, windows (no cracks blocking visibility)
- •Operational checks: horn, backup alarm, all controls responsive, brakes hold under load
- •Fire extinguisher: present, mounted securely, charged (pin and gauge)
- •Immediate removal-from-service conditions (no exceptions):
- • — Active hydraulic leak from any hose or fitting
- • — Non-functional brakes or steering
- • — Damaged or modified ROPS/FOPS
- • — Non-functional seat belt
- • — Structural cracks in boom, stick, or bucket mounting ears
- • — Non-functional horn or backup alarm
- • — Missing or discharged fire extinguisher
Resources
Self-Check Questions
Question 1: During pre-shift inspection, you find the seat belt latch is broken. The job is urgent. What is the correct action?
- A. Use the machine carefully at reduced speed until the part arrives
- B. Tie the belt in a knot as a temporary fix
- C. Tag the machine out of service and notify your supervisor(correct)
- D. Operate only in low-risk areas until repairs are made
Show Explanation
Explanation:
A non-functional seat belt is a removal-from-service condition with no exceptions. ROPS protection only works if the operator is restrained inside the cab during a rollover. Operating without a working seat belt violates OSHA 1926.602 and 230 CMR 6.00.
Question 2: What is the primary OSHA regulation that requires pre-shift inspections of excavating equipment?
- A. 29 CFR 1926.550
- B. 29 CFR 1926.650
- C. 29 CFR 1926.600 and 1926.20(correct)
- D. 29 CFR 1910.178
Show Explanation
Explanation:
29 CFR 1926.20 requires employers to establish safety programs, and 1926.600 specifically requires frequent and regular inspections of construction equipment by a competent person. Together they form the basis for daily pre-shift inspections.
Question 3: When should a pre-shift inspection be performed after moving an excavator to a new location on the same day?
- A. Only at the start of the shift; no additional inspection needed
- B. After each machine relocation, before resuming work(correct)
- C. At the end of the day to document the condition
- D. Only if the move involved traveling more than one mile
Show Explanation
Explanation:
OSHA requires inspections before each shift AND after each machine move. New ground conditions, travel damage, and changed environmental factors all create new hazards that must be assessed before resuming digging.
Question 4: You notice engine oil dripping from under an excavator during pre-shift inspection. The level is slightly low but the machine runs normally. What is the correct action?
- A. Top off the oil and operate, monitoring the level throughout the shift
- B. Tag the machine out of service — active oil leaks indicate a mechanical defect(correct)
- C. Use the machine until the oil level reaches the "add" mark, then stop
- D. Note the leak in the inspection log and notify the foreman at the end of the day
Show Explanation
Explanation:
An active engine oil leak is a mechanical defect that must be repaired before operation. Operating with a known leak can lead to sudden engine seizure, fire risk, and environmental contamination. The machine must be tagged out and the leak repaired.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT on the list of immediate removal-from-service conditions for excavating equipment?
- A. Non-functional seat belt
- B. A boom hydraulic cylinder with a slow external seep(correct)
- C. Structural crack in the stick
- D. Non-functional backup alarm on a skid steer
Show Explanation
Explanation:
A slow external seep from a cylinder rod seal is a defect that requires repair but may not immediately prevent operation depending on its severity — this is a judgment call for the competent person. The others (seat belt, structural cracks, non-functional backup alarm) are all unambiguous removal-from-service conditions.
Question 6: What is the correct sequence for a pre-shift walk-around inspection of an excavator?
- A. Start with the cab interior, then check the engine, then check the undercarriage
- B. Start at any fixed reference point and move consistently around the entire machine in one direction(correct)
- C. Spot-check whatever areas you can see easily from the ground
- D. Begin with fluid levels every time — they are the most critical items
Show Explanation
Explanation:
Starting at a fixed point and moving consistently around the machine ensures nothing is missed. Random spot checks are prone to skipping items. The walk-around method is the industry-standard approach for systematic pre-shift inspections.
Question 7: The fire extinguisher on an excavator has a gauge reading in the red zone. What action is required?
- A. The machine can continue to operate — fire extinguishers are supplemental safety items
- B. Note it in the log and replace the extinguisher during the next scheduled service
- C. Remove the machine from service — a discharged or low-pressure extinguisher is a removal-from-service condition(correct)
- D. Operate with reduced speed near potential ignition sources
Show Explanation
Explanation:
A fire extinguisher in the red zone is discharged or low-pressure and will not work in an emergency. A working, accessible fire extinguisher is required to be present on the machine at all times — its absence or failure is a removal-from-service condition.
Question 8: During a pre-shift inspection of a skid steer, you find the backup alarm makes no sound when you engage reverse. The machine runs fine otherwise. Can you operate it?
- A. Yes, assign a spotter to stand behind the machine during all reversing
- B. Yes, but only on job sites where reversing is not required
- C. No, a non-functional backup alarm is a removal-from-service condition(correct)
- D. Yes, if the site supervisor approves the work plan
Show Explanation
Explanation:
A non-functional backup alarm (when the operator's rear view is obstructed) is a removal-from-service condition. Note that OSHA does allow a designated spotter as an alternative to the alarm — but assigning a spotter retroactively to an already-operating machine does not satisfy the requirement. The machine must be fixed before resuming.
A deeper, regulation-by-regulation companion page for this lesson.