The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety bulletin following a tragic incident where a slinger was fatally crushed by an excavator. This incident was caused by an operator’s momentary distraction and the critical failure to engage the safety control lever (isolation device), a key component in excavator safety.
This outcome confirms the deadly consequence of relying exclusively on manual safety procedures. The HSE’s resulting mandate is clear: Operators must consistently isolate machinery, and Duty Holders must rigorously monitor and manage site compliance and competency.
The scale of the risk: Latest HSE 2024/2025 figures
The incident is part of a persistent national safety challenge, highlighted by the latest HSE figures:
| Category | HSE 2024/2025 data (Great Britain) | Moving vehicles |
| Fatalities (RIDDOR) | 124 workers were fatally injured. | 14 of these fatalities were caused by a worker being struck by a moving vehicle. |
| Non-fatal injuries (LFS) | An estimated 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury. | The risk of being struck by a moving vehicle accounts for over 13,000 non-fatal incidents annually. |
ZoneSafe: The multi-layered solution for risk around MHE
ZoneSafe directly addresses the risk around material handling equipment by delivering the comprehensive system required when human error intervenes. Our technology provides the critical, instantaneous proximity warning necessary to prevent a fatality the moment a procedural breach occurs. Crucially, our data-driven platform ensures continuous monitoring, giving Duty Holders the tools to enforce compliance and meet the HSE’s mandate effectively.
Multi-antenna coverage for 360° excavator safety
The risk from excavators extends around the entire vehicle, not just the bucket. The machine’s complex geometry and large operational arc make its risk profile too high to rely on a single detection point. For a slewing vehicle like an excavator, effective detection requires full 360-degree coverage and precision to ensure excavator safety:
- Modular 360° coverage: ZoneSafe excavators utilise multiple antennas (2, 3, or 4) to create independent, adjustable detection zones around all high-risk areas simultaneously. This is essential for machines where the rear slew area (a critical blind spot), the counterweight, and the boom all present distinct, life-threatening risks.
- Precision zoning & nuisance control: Single-antenna solutions cannot customise detection distances front and back, leading to safety gaps or constant nuisance alarms. ZoneSafe’s multi-antenna system allows you to set a wider zone for the high-risk slew path and a tighter zone for the working end (when precise digging is required).
- Protection against asset damage: The multiple, distinct zones also protect against costly contact with fixed assets (e.g., walls, pillars, scaffolding) and other vehicles, providing a vital layer of damage control that extends beyond personnel safety.
- Active two-way warning: The pedestrian (slinger) – the person most at risk – receives an immediate, unmistakable vibration alert on their wearable tag upon zone breach. This ensures the person moves to safety, regardless of operator distraction or communication failure.
Meeting the HSE’s mandate: Data monitoring & competency
The HSE demands duty holders monitor safety and ensure competency. For high-risk vehicles like excavators, this requires robust data – not just a warning.
- My ZoneSafe Data management: We log every near-miss and zone breach event. This data is essential for management to prove compliance.
- Targeted training: Managers can use the data to see when and where people are detected near machines that should have been isolated. This provides objective evidence to target training and assess competency based on real-world events.
Enhance excavator safety and more!
Our modular system is not only suitable for excavator safety but your entire fleet. Whether you’re looking to protect workers or your vehicles, our proximity warning systems cover a wide range of requirements, from vehicle-to-pedestrian to vehicle-to-vehicle safety, as well as our variety of visual warning systems such as active signage.
If you would like to know more, please get in touch with our team via the form below.
