The machine turns through a full circle on its base, and the bucket can be exchanged for other attachments. There is no licence for this machine.
No UK government body issues a licence to operate a 360 excavator, and no statute requires one. The duty to train and assess competence sits with the employer, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 section 2(2)(c) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 regulation 9.
This training is structured operator training with formal theory and practical assessment, which the employer can rely on as evidence when meeting that duty. Sites may set their own entry requirements, and the operator should check with the site before attending.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 apply, supported by the Approved Code of Practice L22, safe use of work equipment, which sets out training under regulation 9. The guidance HSG144, safe use of vehicles on construction sites, applies to the excavator moving around the site.
Where the excavator is used for lifting, for example placing pipes into a trench, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) apply, with thorough examination of the lifting accessories and a planned lift. The quick hitch is secured before the attachment is used, underground and overhead services are checked before digging starts, and an exclusion zone is kept clear of the machine while it slews.