HSE’s Excavator Bulletin – Using the tools available to enhance safety

HSE’s Excavator Bulletin – Using the tools available to enhance safety

Last month [August 2025], the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a new Safety Bulletin ED02-2025, titled “Excavators: Use of safety control lever or isolation devices” .  Aimed at excavator operators, slingers, and anyone working nearby, the bulletin highlights a tragic and preventable incident.

Why have they published it?

In the bulletin the HSE refers to an incident where ‘during a lifting operation, a slinger was fatally crushed between a quick hitch and a rigid structure. The excavator operator was leaning out of his cab to communicate with the slinger when he inadvertently made contact with the left-hand joystick, causing the excavator to slew. The safety control lever had not been applied to isolate the machine.’

This incident brings to light a significant risk: unintended machine movement, especially when control levers aren’t safely locked out during idle or close-proximity interactions.

What’s the HSE’s core message?

The HSE’s advice is straightforward:

• Apply the safety control lever or an isolation device whenever the machine is at rest
• Always plan, manage, and monitor lifting operations, particularly around the swing arc of an excavator.
• Conduct rigorous risk assessments, ensure the competency of operators and slingers, and insist on clear communication

How does SiteZone help mitigate the risk of excavator buckets

We’ve designed our products to cover the risks associated with slewing excavators and created a product that works with the safety control levers (deadman handle as their often referred to) complementing the HSE’s recent advice. We do this in two ways:

BucketZone: Covering the working equipment of the machine

Many detection systems, such as cameras, cannot extend as far as the end of the excavator arm, particularly when outreached, without having zone spillover causing unnecessary alerts.

BucketZone solves this by allowing a distinct detection zone around the bucket itself. As a rugged antenna, it can withstand the harsh environment near the working equipment and extend the zone range precisely where it’s needed.

SmartBubble: working with the safety control lever

HSE emphasises the need to isolate the machine when idle. That’s exactly where SmartBubble comes in.

• SmartBubble senses when the Deadman Handle (safety lever) is engaged, which indicates the machine is in a safe state.
• When engaged, SmartBubble shrinks the detection exclusion zone, allowing authorized personnel to approach without triggering alarms. The zone expands back to full size once the lever is released.
• Since April 2021, every new SiteZone proximity warning system for excavators comes with SmartBubble as standard, with upgrades available for existing systems too.

This feature aligns precisely with the HSE’s recommendation to isolate the machine during rest, offering both safety and convenience.

In Summary

The right solution for the right vehicle

The HSE’s latest bulletin serves a critical reminder: uncontrolled excavator movement is deadly, preventing it starts with simple steps, like applying the safety control lever.

With our BucketZone and SmartBubble technologies, we're not just following guidance, we’re working with it. BucketZone gives you a detection zone around the bucket /quick hitch of the excavator providing warning for the potential slewing. Combined with SmartBubble to allow for safe approaches in line with operator protocols being followed (engaging the safety lever) they provide a warning system that supports correct behaviours on-site.

Request a demo for your excavator so see how SiteZone can cover areas that cameras cannot see.