Not every construction site is going to be flat, open, and solid. Often, you’ll encounter some spaces that are difficult to navigate. They may be too small, too muddy, or there may be large obstacles in the way. Whilst these obstructions can be annoying and make your life harder, they aren’t the be-all and end-all of projects. It is possible to work around these tricky areas to get your job completed. So, how do you do it?

First, let’s look at some of the common hazards you’ll often find at a site. It’s pretty common you’ll find some of the following around home-based and commercial construction sites. Consider whether you’ll need to work around these before booking in any equipment.

• Walls. Modern landscaping, while pushing the boundaries of design, often incorporates large features like walls to separate spaces. While these create a nice aesthetic, they can be tricky to work around.
• Fences. It goes without saying that you’ll probably need to work around some kind of fence or boundary.
• General tight spaces. Small backyards, front yards, narrow gate openings, and walkways are just some of the confined spaces you might encounter while working on a home site.
• Hills and slopes. These make even the most skilled operators slightly anxious, and it makes sense why – mounting these incorrectly, or with the wrong machine, might produce a tipping over situation.
• Mud and soft earth. It’s not fun to get bogged down in any machine, let alone one that you need for construction work.

General tips

On any site, let alone one that has some tricky obstacles and cramped spaces, it’s important to take extra precautions to ensure no damage is caused to your machine or work area. Unnecessarily breaking down fences and landscape features is a good way to rack up extra costs. That’s why it’s important to incorporate some safety protocols when using heavy machinery to prevent injury and damage. So, follow these safety procedures next time you’re operating heavy machinery.

Safety tips

• Make sure you are extra aware of your surroundings. Get a good sense of your boundaries, especially the area behind the machine as this is a difficult space to see while operating certain equipment. Always look around before entering the cab or starting the machine.
• Get used to the controls and the scope of the machine. If you over extend or turn too quickly then you might find yourself in a worse-off position. Have a practice drive around your space to understand the dimensions of the area and how to navigate the controls.
• Take your time. Rushing to get a job done can cause an accident that puts you and others at risk. Concerned that you didn’t plan enough hire time? Ring the friendly Ryno Hire team to organise an extended hire.
• Get some expert advice. If you’re new to the world of heavy machinery, the Ryno Hire team can also help get you set up to use equipment by explaining all the controls and gears. On top of this, with Ryno Hire’s equipment, you will always receive an operators manual to refer to whilst using the machines and be able to call the team on 07 3353 2230 to get direct advice.
• Wear safety gear. Grab yourself a helmet and the right footwear when working on a site, even if it’s just for home. These are especially necessary when working around heavy materials such as bricks, concrete blocks, and rocks. It’s never fun getting a bump on the head from one of these – so protect yourself.

Now for some issue-specific tips. If you’re dealing with any of the following obstacles, we have some advice that can help. Continue reading to learn how to navigate these tough areas!

Working Around Tight Spaces

Use Compact Equipment

Down-size your equipment. Go for a mini or compact range when choosing heavy machinery. Always take measurements of extra tight areas before selecting equipment to dry hire – don’t just eyeball it. Some great mini machines include:

• The mini excavator (1-tonne)
• The Bobcat 1.2-tonne loader
• Ryno’s range of mini loaders
• The 600kg mini dumper
• The 49kg or 65kg compactors

Use Ramps

You might need to use a ramp to get to a tight spot or elevated area. Typical aluminium loading ramps are great because they are heavy duty, and made from high quality, durable materials. Ramps come in a range of sizes and weight capacities. Always look into how much weight your ramp can support – remember that you’ll need to consider not just the weight of your machine, but also it’s load capacity.

Navigating Slopes and Hills

Tracks over Wheels

When driving over slopes, smaller machines that are tracked are incredibly useful. This is due to the fact that on excavators, you can widen the tracks to aid in machine stability and lower the likelihood of tipping over, which can be safer on slopes and hills. Apart from machine height, the type of undercarriage is also something to consider. Machines that contain tracks, like the tracked skid steer or all of Ryno’s excavators, are better at gripping the ground and are therefore more stable on hills.

Some tips for driving on a slope

• Remember to go slow – same as if you were driving a car on a hill or in the rain.
• When positioning yourself, make sure you point the tracks up and down, not sideways. This is to counterbalance the weight of the heavy motor drive.
• Another point to consider is that when on a slop, always have the blade at the bottom and down into the ground as it uses it like an anchor to aid in stability.
• Keep buckets as low to the ground as possible as it also helps with centre of gravity and helps reduce tipping over.

Working on Mud and Soft Earth

Tracks Win Again

Much like on slopes, tracked machines are ideal for these conditions. Unlike wheels which spread weight over four sharp points, tracks equally distribute weight along a greater surface area, meaning less chance of sinking. Want to learn more about using tracked machines? Read about some of the advantages of using a posi-track loader in muddy or damp conditions

Working around Fences and Walls

Maneuverability

If you’re working alongside many walls or fences, it’s important to choose machines that can be maneuvered to reach right next to these obstacles. Typically, it’s the mini equipment that’ll get you as close as possible to sharp boundaries. Ryno Hire’s mini loaders can push materials right along walls and fences easily and efficiently. Need to excavate right next to a wall? That’s no problem either with the 1-tonne excavator (pictured above) – even if you can’t get the machine right next to the wall, you’ll find that the arm will maneuver to reach the space you need.

Before Committing to the Project

Still concerned? Consult one of the friendly experts at Ryno Hire to help you plan your next project. The team at Ryno Hire are happy to guide first-timers with how to use equipment, and help skilled operators with tricky locations. We can also help you plan the equipment you’ll need for an upcoming project, and get you the best combo deal possible when hiring multiple equipment. Read more about how you can get more value for money by using a combo deal right here.

Ryno Hire is a family-owned local business specialising in earthmoving machinery. If you’re looking to utilise the great value and affordability of dry hire equipment, then check out Ryno’s great range of machines. Enquire today to get planning for your next project.