ISO 20474-1:2017

Overview

ISO 20474-1:2017 - "Earth-moving machinery - Safety - Part 1: General requirements" is the general safety standard for earth-moving machinery defined in ISO 6165. It specifies common safety requirements that apply across two or more earth-moving machine families and to machine attachments and derivative equipment used to excavate, load, transport, drill, spread, compact or trench earth, rock and other materials. The standard addresses all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to machines within its scope when used as intended or under reasonably foreseeable misuse, and defines technical measures to eliminate or reduce risks during commissioning, operation and maintenance.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 20474-1 consolidates general safety provisions used across the ISO 20474 series. Major topics include:

• Operator protection and access: design of operator’s stations, cabs, seats, access systems and protective structures (including falling-object protection).
• Controls and indicators: safe layout and prevention of inadvertent activation, starting/stopping systems, emergency lowering and remote control considerations.
• Steering, braking and stability: requirements that address wheeled and tracked machines, brake systems and overall machine stability.
• Visibility and lighting: operator field of view, lighting, signalling and reflector requirements for safe operation.
• Attachments and object handling: safe attachment identification, instructions, quick couplers and lifting devices.
• Protective measures: guards for moving parts, hot part protection, fenders, sharp edges and articulated frame locks.
• Electrical, electronic and pressurized systems: degree of protection, connectors, over-current protection, batteries, hydraulic lines and hose assembly safety.
• Fuel, hydraulic tanks and fire protection: tank design, filler openings and fire extinguisher/fire-resistance provisions.
• Noise and measurement: requirements for noise reduction and noise emission measurement.
• Maintenance, retrieval and transport: safe access for routine maintenance, support devices, towing and lifting/tying-down procedures.
• Verification and documentation: procedures for verification of safety requirements and information for use.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

ISO 20474-1 is essential for:

• Manufacturers and OEMs designing earth-moving machinery and attachments
• Product safety and compliance engineers preparing certification and conformity assessment
• Design teams conducting risk assessments and specifying protective measures
• Test laboratories and regulatory authorities assessing safety compliance
• Fleet owners, procurement and maintenance teams creating safe operation and maintenance procedures

The standard is used for product design, technical specifications, procurement requirements, operator manuals and safety training materials.

Related standards

• ISO 6165 - Definitions of earth-moving machinery
• ISO 20474 series - machine-family specific parts (e.g., ISO 20474-3, ISO 20474-10 as applicable)
• ISO 17757 - Specific requirements for autonomous machines

Note: ISO 20474-1:2017 applies from its publication date and is not applicable to machines manufactured before that date.