Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/393925
Better Roads October 2014 23 LANDOLL DETACHABLES LANDOLL CORPORATION tXXXMBOEPMMDPN 22' to 32' Usable Deck /HQJWKVò´'HFN+HLJKW 35/55 TON DETACH 835 DETACH Call for a FREE Demo! Control at your fingertips Along the same vein of keeping the operator at a safe distance from the point of action, many different types of road-build- ing equipment offer remote control operation of select units. Interestingly enough, not only are there incredible safety ben- efits in operating equipment via remote control, but plenty of jobsite efficiencies can be gained by providing a better vantage point for the operator. In the case of dowel pin drills, by placing the operator in an area with a better line of sight, the holes are drilled more accurately and more efficiently as well. Traditionally, operators would be running the drill via the control panel, directly above the area to be drilled. This makes it difficult to see exactly where the holes need to be drilled without craning your neck, or constantly stepping off the slab to check location accuracy, then stepping back on the slab to make adjustments, and then drilling. Not only does remote control technology keep operators at a safe distance from the unit itself, it also allows them to be away from potentially harmful concrete dust, out of the way of traffic, and also allows them to be located farther away from the heat and noise of the portable air compressor, which powers the drill unit. With control literally at the operator's fingertips, and armed with a much better line of sight to the area to be drilled, efficiency is increased, as well as operator safety — all great things that positively affect contractors' bottom lines. A breath of fresh air The processes that are required to create a road from scratch include actions that kick up dust and debris. This is just an- other common hazard on the jobsite, and it's important for us to do our part to minimize airborne particles being in- haled by workers, which can lead to respiratory system issues. One organization that we work closely with is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and part of their mission is to evaluate workplace hazards, includ- ing dust inhalation. We, along with many other manufacturers work hand-in-hand with NIOSH while engineering equip- ment to make job sites safer. One of the most serious ailments that NIOSH has identi- fied as a hazard to construction crews is a condition called 7H[W,1)2WRRUYLVLWZZZEHWWHUURDGVFRPLQIR