Unsafe Quick Couplers Linked to Accidents

Since 1/98, there have been 16 incidents investigated by OSHA in which workers were struck by excavator buckets that were unintentionally released from their quick coupling devices; 9 of these were fatal.

Note: Related bucket accidents investigated by Madison, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Columbus Area Offices

Unsafe Quick Couplers Linked to Accidents

Purpose of SHIB:Alert employers & employees that excavator attachments may release inadvertently from quick coupling devices if positive corrective actions are not taken.

What Are Quick Couplers and Why are They Popular?

After market devices that enable contractors to make quick attachment changes on hydraulic excavators

With bucket removed the lifting capacity of the machine is increased

Contractors are able to do the majority of their work with a large bucket then switch to a smaller bucket for fine-tuning and tight areas

Quick couplers allow the operator to change from using a bucket to a ram attachment and back to a bucket easily

Why do the Buckets Release?Quick coupler is not fully engaged & locked

Bucket pin may not be sized properly

Quick coupler springs have loosen or lost adequate tension to hold the bucket

Quick couplers not maintained properly

What to Do:

Make sure that couplers have a manual locking pin installed and used! – The pin insures that the bucket will not fall off if

the coupler fails (e.g., springs loosen; etc.)

Coupler Manufacturers JRB and Hendrix have recently made retrofit kits with manual locking pins available for use on their equipment – Couplers from manufacturers Craig & Esco are

already equipped with the manual locking pins; new JRB & Hendrix couplers will be too; do not yet know about Caterpillar…

Inspection Procedures: Do you use quick couplers? If so, who

are they made by? Inform them of the SHIB and

NIOSH Alert Are they equipped with a manual

locking pin? If so, who installs the pin? Operator can not install the pin from the cab; it needs to be manually inserted

Are your workers familiar with these specific quick couplers? (Hendrix couplers are very different from JRBs)

Ask to see the pin and check machine for warning labels

If the quick couplers are not equipped with or using the manual locking pin a §5(a)(1) citation is to be issued