by Richard Cosgrove | Thu 06 Mar 2025
Newly updated Suction and Vacuum Excavator Safe Use Guidance now available
The Suction and Vacuum Excavator Special Interest Group (SAVE), which is managed by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), has released a newly updated Good Practice Guide for the Safe Use of Suction and Vacuum Excavators.
The publication can be downloaded free of charge from the CPA website here
The guidance was originally published in 2019 following a number of incidents, including one which sadly resulted in the fatality of an operator. The unfortunate incident galvanised the suction and vacuum excavator sector at the time to come together and form a Special Interest Group to create and apply common operational standards.
One of the first actions for SAVE members was the production of safe use guidance which was, and remains, necessary to define safe systems of work to ensure the solid foundations required for safe and successful operations with this specialist machine type. The guide was devised for use as a key reference document in the sector, providing the advice necessary to ensure that operations involving suction and vacuum excavators are carried out safely and efficiently.
In the latest, revised version of the guidance, revisions have been made with regards to the use and control of supporting personnel, road transport requirements and cleaning of hoppers, and issues have also been clarified around the use of ground-engaging tools. However, it remains testament to the original publication that only limited updates were needed for the content to remain current and valid.
Declan Burke, Chair of the Suction and Vacuum Excavator Special Interest Group and Managing Director of Force One Ltd said: “The original publication - the first of its type - made a huge difference in the way that suction and vacuum excavators were procured and used and it has stood the test of time.
“As with all operational practices, we needed to ensure it remained fit-for-purpose and I and the members of the group, urge those who own, hire or specify the use of suction and vacuum excavators to read and implement the recommendations and good practices contained within the revised publication,” he added.
Over the coming months, the SAVE Group plans to host an Open Day for industry to publicise the revised guidance, as well as showcasing new developments and safe practices. The date and location will be confirmed to sector users in due course.
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