Who can drive a mini digger?
If you’re hiring a mini excavator, or dumper for your building site or landscaping job you might be wondering who’s allowed to drive it. Do you need a drivers licence? Is there any extra training needed? The answer to this is it depends where you’ll be working with it.
If you’re on private land (your domestic property for example) you don’t need a driving licence or any extra documentation. Obviously we would recommend that you find out about how the digger controls work, and read our safety tips below to make sure everyone stays safe!
What if you need to drive the excavator on the road to get to another part of the site? Then you will need a drivers licence. If you’re driving on a public road you have to have a valid driver’s licence.
What if you are working with the mini digger in a public space such as the roadside? If you’re working with any excavation equipment in a public space you will need the correct qualifications. This is called a 360 excavator operator qualification (as it covers you to work in a digger that has a rotating base). You would need the correct training and a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card. If you’re working on a building site you’ll also need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. These qualifications are to ensure that everyone stays safe.
So you don’t need extra qualifications, and you’re all set to start your project. It pays to be safety aware, so why not take a moment to read our safety tips:
Safety Tips
- Only drive on flat, firm ground, and make sure the digger is stable before starting to dig. You don’t want it to topple over!
- Don’t ever swing the bucket over people, this includes anyone in another vehicle or portable toilet (that may contain someone!).
- Be careful not to drive too close to the edge of a trench that you’ve dug. The soil will be weaker at the edge and if you’re too close you may cause it to cave in.
- Wear the right clothing. It sounds daft but you need to make sure that you are wearing the correct safety clothing. A reflective vest, durable work boots and hard hat are a good idea.
- Use your seatbelt. If your plant is fitted with a seatbelt make sure you use it. Even though these machines move slowly a seat belt can still protect you from injury if it tips or is hit by anything else.
We love to see the great projects that have been completed safely with our mini excavators and dumpers. If you’re thinking of hiring plant for your building or landscaping project get in touch today! We will deliver our excavators in great, clean condition, and will be happy to explain the controls to you to ensure you know how to use them.