Who Should Maintain Heavy Equipment Attachments?

Regular care of your heavy equipment and its attachments can prevent the need for costly repairs or replacements down the track. Just as importantly, good maintenance can prevent down time, a factor that not only involves the costs of replacements, but also the loss of income – a double penalty. Who should do the maintenance of heavy equipment attachments?

There are two sides to maintenance. There is the daily inspections and minor tasks such as lubrication that should be undertaken by the operator. The operator is the person who uses the attachments, knows how well they are performing, and is best placed to identify any problems developing. The second side to maintenance may well involve a mechanic who can work on problems identified by the operator – before they become major issues.

The operators daily inspection should cover more than just a walk around wear and tear check. Attachments rely on being connected to the heavy equipment and these connections are often areas of high stress. A daily check should include:

• Checks the attachment’s hoses and fittings for cracks or leaks and ensure all shielding is in place.
• Checking fittings to ensure that they are not loose.
• Checking that hoses and fittings are clean and free of contaminants.
• Ensuring all attachment’s critical points are lubricated and functioning properly.
• Inspecting any locking mechanisms to ensure they are operating properly.

These are not time consuming or onerous tasks. An experienced operator can undertake these checks while they are coupling or uncoupling an attachment. The long term benefits for the organization are immeasurable when a preventative maintenance program is undertaken regularly.

Of course the only way to know whether or not an attachment is in good working condition is through experience and training. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools includes preventative maintenance in their heavy equipment training programs. You can see the full list of training modules through our website.