Better Roads

October 2014

Better Roads Digital Magazine

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22 October 2014 Better Roads Applications & Innovations gimmick, or a line item on a sell sheet — it needs to be taken seriously. There are myriad technologies available to combat the com- mon safety pitfalls on any jobsite, and regardless of manufac- turer, contractors should always have the best interests of their crews in mind when making their purchasing decisions. Each piece of equipment on the job site provides their own unique challenges, so here are a few general things to consider when purchasing equipment. Keeping a safe distance When at all possible, it is important for the operator to be removed from the point of action on a jobsite. Anytime ma- chinery is drilling, breaking, tamping, pounding, cutting, scraping, pouring or crushing, it presents possible hazards to construction crew members. Some manufacturers are taking the driver's seat when it comes to keeping crew members away from the action by developing automatic technology to integrate into their machinery. As an example, manufacturers of large-gang dowel pin drills, which are an integral part of the road building process, are now available in self-propelled models. Dowel pin drills ride along the slab of cured concrete drilling holes into the side of the slab. These holes allow workers to insert pieces of rebar into the holes and make it possible for two adjacent concrete slabs to align once the next slab is poured. The self- propelled units offer an alternative to pushing the unit down the slab, and takes at least part of the danger out of the equa- tion. Dowel pin drills are one example of removing the operator from the action, but it's not like this is an entirely new idea. The operator cabs of heavy machinery; like excavators and backhoes are also removed from immediate danger (perched safely atop the unit), but the location of the operator still al- lows the machinery to be transported without presenting hazards to the crew. It does not make sense for the cab of an excavator to be lo- cated near the tracks or where work is being done. Not only would it be considered unsafe, but it's also ineffi cient. This technology that removes the operator from the action is more of a tried-and-true idea that has simply been translated into other types of equipment. Email: info@mobilebarriers.com www.mobilebarriers.com ® 7H[W,1)2WRRUYLVLWZZZEHWWHUURDGVFRPLQIR 7H[W,1)2WRRUYLVLWZZZEHWWHUURDGVFRPLQIR

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