Skid Steers & Compact Track Loaders

Skid steers are on almost every jobsite. Many operators have been killed when they leaned out or climbed out with the lift arms raised and were crushed between the arms and the frame.

• Construction
• Landscaping
• Agriculture

Main hazards

• Crushing by the lift arms: leaning out of the cab, or climbing out over a raised bucket, lets the arms come down on you.
• Unexpected movement: bumping a control when getting in or out, or with interlocks disabled.
• Rollovers and tip-overs: slopes, raised loads and drop-offs. Skid steers are short and tip forward or backward easily.
• Run-overs: the operator has poor visibility to the rear and sides.
• Attachments: unlocked quick-attach plates, and powered attachments like augers, mulchers, breakers and trenchers.

Get in and out safely

• Enter and exit only with the bucket or attachment flat on the ground, the engine off, and the parking brake set.
• If the arms must be raised for service, engage the lift arm support device first.
• Use the grab handles and steps; keep three points of contact.

Operating

• Wear the seatbelt and lower the seat bar/restraint bar every time.
• Carry loads low. Travel up and down slopes with the heavy end uphill.
• Stay within the rated operating capacity for the attachment.
• Keep the pre-use walk-around routine: tires/tracks, quick-attach locking pins engaged, hydraulic leaks, interlocks working.

• Don’t reach, lean or climb out of the cab while the engine is running or the arms are up.
• Don’t bypass or disable seat-bar interlocks.
• Don’t carry riders, or lift people in the bucket.
• Don’t operate controls from outside the cab.

Rated operating capacity

Skid steers are rated by their rated operating capacity (ROC), usually about half the tipping load for wheeled machines. The ROC drops when you use forks with a load far out on the tines, or attachments that move the load forward. Check the operator’s manual and the attachment label. On slopes, a load that’s fine on flat ground can tip the machine.

Attachments

• Quick-attach levers or powered pins fully engaged; both pins visible through the attachment plate
• Attachment is approved for this machine’s hydraulic flow and weight
• Hydraulic hoses connected, routed away from pinch points, and not leaking
• Guards in place on mulchers, brush cutters and planers; bystanders kept far back from thrown debris
• Polycarbonate front door or screen installed when the attachment can throw objects

Workers on foot

Stay out of the area where the skid steer is working. Approach only after the operator has lowered the attachment, stopped, and signaled you. Never stand in front of a raised bucket or forks, and never let a skid steer lift you.

Last updated: October 1, 2026