Operational safety: Dangers caused by bucket tooth falling off

Causes of bucket tooth shedding

1. Material fatigue and wear

As the direct contact part of the excavator bucket, the bucket teeth are subjected to huge impact and friction for a long time. With the increase of usage time, the bucket tooth material will gradually fatigue, the surface wear will increase, and eventually the structural strength will decrease, and it is easy to break or fall off during operation.

2. Improper installation

The bucket teeth are usually fixed to the bucket by bolts or pins. If the installation is not carried out in accordance with the specifications, such as the bolts are not tightened or the pins are not fully inserted, the bucket teeth are easy to loosen and eventually fall off during operation.

3. Overloaded operation

When an excavator works under conditions that exceed its designed load, the pressure on the bucket teeth will increase dramatically. This overload operation will accelerate the wear and damage of the bucket teeth and increase the risk of falling off.

4. Inadequate maintenance

Regular inspection and maintenance are the key to ensuring the safe use of bucket teeth. If the daily inspection of the bucket teeth is neglected and the severely worn bucket teeth are not found and replaced in time, the risk of falling off will increase significantly.

Dangers caused by bucket teeth falling off

1. Fragment splashing

When the bucket teeth fall off, the metal fragments flying out at high speed may cause serious injuries to the operator and nearby workers. These fragments have extremely strong penetrating power at high speed, which may cause skin cuts, eye injuries or even more serious internal injuries.

2. Equipment damage

The fallen bucket teeth may hit other parts of the excavator, such as hydraulic lines, cab or engine, causing equipment damage, increasing maintenance costs and affecting the progress of the project.

3. Operation interruption

After the bucket teeth fall off, the excavator must be shut down for replacement or repair, which will directly lead to operation interruption 

Dangers caused by bucket teeth falling off

1. Fragment splashing

When the bucket teeth fall off, the metal fragments flying out at high speed may cause serious injuries to the operator and nearby workers. These fragments have extremely strong penetrating power at high speed, which may cause skin cuts, eye injuries or even more serious internal injuries.

2. Equipment damage

The fallen bucket teeth may hit other parts of the excavator, such as hydraulic lines, cab or engine, causing equipment damage, increasing maintenance costs and affecting the progress of the project.

3. Operation interruption

After the bucket teeth fall off, the excavator must be shut down for replacement or repair, which will directly lead to operation interruption and affect the overall engineering efficiency. Especially in time-sensitive projects, such interruptions may bring huge economic losses.

4. Secondary accidents

If the fallen bucket teeth fall on unstable or high places, they may cause secondary accidents, such as rolling and injuring people or causing tripping hazards under mobile equipment.

Measures to prevent bucket teeth from falling off

1. Regular inspection and maintenance

Establish a strict bucket tooth inspection system and regularly check the wear of the bucket teeth and the tightening status of the fixings. Bucket teeth with severe wear should be replaced in time to avoid losing the big picture due to small things.

2. Correct installation

Ensure that the bucket teeth are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's standard operating procedures. Use appropriate tools and torque wrenches to ensure that the tightening force of the bolts or pins meets the requirements. A secondary inspection should be carried out after installation to confirm that the bucket teeth are firmly fixed.

3. Avoid overload operation

Operate strictly according to the rated load of the excavator to avoid overloading the equipment in pursuit of efficiency. Arrange the operation plan reasonably to avoid long-term continuous high-intensity operation.

4. Use high-quality bucket teeth

Choose bucket teeth that meet specifications and are of reliable quality. Although high-quality bucket teeth have a higher initial cost, their durability and safety are significantly better than inferior products, and they are more economical in the long run.

5. Operator training

Strengthen safety training for operators to make them aware of the risks and preventive measures of bucket tooth shedding. Operators should have basic equipment inspection capabilities and be able to detect potential problems in daily operations in a timely manner.

6. Set up safety protection measures

Set up necessary safety protection measures in the operating area, such as protective nets, warning signs, etc., to reduce the risk of injury to surrounding personnel and equipment when bucket teeth fall off.

Emergency measures for bucket tooth shedding

Despite taking various preventive measures, bucket tooth shedding may still occur. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and be familiar with emergency response measures:

Immediate shutdown: Once a bucket tooth is found to be shedding, the operator should immediately stop the operation and turn off the power supply of the equipment to prevent further danger.

Alert surrounding personnel: Quickly notify nearby personnel to ensure that they stay away from the danger zone to avoid being hit by flying debris.

Inspect the equipment: Under safe conditions, check whether other parts of the equipment are damaged, especially the hydraulic system and key structural parts.

Replace bucket teeth: Use spare bucket teeth for replacement and ensure that all fixings are firmly installed. If there are no spare parts, contact the supplier or maintenance team in time.

Record accidents: Record the time, cause and treatment process of bucket teeth falling off in detail to provide reference for subsequent maintenance and improvement.

บทสรุป

Although bucket teeth falling off is a common mechanical failure, its potential dangers cannot be ignored. Problems such as debris splashing, equipment damage and operation interruption not only threaten personnel safety, but also may cause huge economic losses. Preventive measures such as regular inspection, correct installation, avoiding overload operation and using high-quality bucket teeth can effectively reduce the risk of bucket teeth falling off. At the same time, formulating and familiarizing yourself with emergency response measures can minimize injuries and losses when accidents occur. Operational safety is no small matter. Only by being vigilant at all times can we ensure the smooth progress of operations and the safety of personnel.