🚧 Using an Excavator as a Crane – Why Training Is Essential

Excavators are incredibly versatile machines commonly used for digging and earthmoving—but did you know they can also be used as cranes?

While it’s perfectly legal to use an excavator for lifting operations, it comes with serious responsibilities. If done incorrectly, it can pose risks to operators, site staff, and the surrounding area. That’s why proper training and competency are essential when using an excavator as a lifting machine.

At Kentra Training, we offer specialised courses to ensure your team can safely and legally carry out lifting tasks with excavators.

using an excavator as a crane

⚖️ What Does the Law Say?

Using an excavator for lifting is covered by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998. These regulations state that:

  • Lifting operations must be properly planned and carried out safely.

  • Lifting equipment must be suitable for the task and clearly marked with a safe working load (SWL).

  • Operators must be trained and competent to perform lifting operations using excavators and either have a Slinger singaller operator to assist with the lift or be training in slinger operations.

Without appropriate training, you could be operating outside of the law—and putting people at risk.

using an excavator as a crane

🏗️ What’s Involved in the Training?

Our “Using an Excavator as a Crane” training course is designed for experienced excavator operators who need to perform lifting operations on-site.

Training covers:

  • Legal responsibilities under LOLER & PUWER

  • Assessing lifting capacities and machine limitations

  • How to read and use lifting charts

  • Attachment use (hooks, lifting eyes, etc.)

  • Slinging loads and working with a banksman

  • Centre of gravity, load stability, and radius

  • Ground conditions and machine setup

  • Communication and signalling

  • Daily checks and maintenance before lifting

  • Risk assessment and safe systems of work

Training includes both theory and practical elements, ending with an assessment to confirm competency.

Candidates successfully completing this course will receive one of the following:

  • Kentra Training course validation and plastic (credit card size) ID card
  • NPORS traditional registration and plastic ID card N100 using an Excavator as a Crane
  • NPORS/CSCS registration and plastic ID card C100 using an Excavator as a Crane
    2 year Red card – No NVQ
    5 year Blue card – if you hold a NVQ for Excavations

If NPORS is required we will need to notify them prior to the course, so please mention this when booking.

Our instructor will take the candidates picture on the day of training, which will appear on their ID cards.

using an excavator as a crane

👷 Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

  • Excavator operators who lift loads using the machine, where they hang below the bucket

  • Site supervisors overseeing lifting operations

  • Health and safety professionals seeking compliance

  • Any site using excavators for dual roles (digging and lifting)

Candidates should already hold a valid excavator operator qualification before attending this course.

using an excavator as a crane

✅ Why Choose Kentra Training?

At Kentra, we’ve delivered expert training across the UK for over 25 years. Our strengths include:

✔ Industry-recognised training
✔ Highly experienced instructors
✔ Flexible course delivery—on-site or at our centre
✔ Courses tailored to your equipment and lifting requirements
✔ Full compliance with HSE and industry standards

We don’t just teach theory—we make sure your operators are confident, competent, and ready to lift safely.

using an excavator as a crane

📅 Ready to Book?

Whether you’re planning a one-off lift or regularly use excavators as cranes, make sure your team is properly trained.

📍 Based in Cheshire – training delivered nationwide.
📞 Call us: 01606 832 556
📧 Email: office@kentratraining.co.uk
🌐 Learn more:  Get in touch

Kentra Training – Safety, Skill, and Compliance You Can Trust.

Using an Excavator as a Crane

Thank you for reading our blog about Using an Excavator as a Crane Training, for more details you can also check out our other blogs:

N100 Official NPORS Excavator as a Crane Training

Excavator as a crane – our A 2 Z of Safety Training

N100 Excavator as a Crane Course Details

Our awarding body is National Plant Operators Registration Scheme – NPORS.com

May 2025 is our Lifting Operations Training month, follow us as we run through each one of the courses in greater detail: