Updated Suction and Vacuum Excavator Safe Use Guidance now available

CIP has updated it’s guidance in the Construction Health and Safety Manual on the use of Suction and Vacuum Excavators following the release of the recently updated Construction Plant-Hire Association’s (CPA) Good Practice Guide for the Safe Use of Suction and Vacuum Excavators.

The publication was originally developed and published in 2018 following a number of incidents, including one which sadly resulted in a fatality of the operator. The unfortunate incident galvanised the suction/vacuum excavator sector at the time to come together and form a Special Interest Group to create and apply common operational standards.

The CPA guidance should be used as a key reference document to ensure the safe use of suction/vacuum excavators and provides the advice necessary to ensure that the operations involving these specialist machine types are carried out safely and efficiently.

The revised good practice guide can be downloaded free of charge from the publications webpage at https://www.cpa.uk.net/safety-and-technical-publications/suction-vacuum-excavator-guidance