ISO 20474-12:2008 gives the safety requirements specific to cable excavators as defined in ISO 6165. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 20474-1, which specifies general safety requirements common to earthmoving machine families, and with ISO/TS 20474-14, which gives information on provisions that are mandatory in particular countries or regions. The specific requirements given in ISO 20474-12:2008 take precedence over the general requirements of ISO 20474-1.
ISO 20474-12:2008 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to the earth-moving machinery within its Scope when used as intended or under conditions of misuse reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see also ISO/TS 20474-14). It specifies the appropriate technical measures for eliminating or reducing risks arising from significant hazards, hazardous situations or events during commissioning, operation and maintenance. It is not applicable to machines manufactured before the date of its publication.
It can also be applied to cable excavators, their undercarriages and upper-structures, if intended for use in combination with other equipment or attachments such as drill rigs, pile-driving, extracting and moving (e.g. railtrack, walking legs, pontoon, ship) equipment or stationary undercarriages. It does not deal with the specific hazards relevant to such additional equipment or attachments.