September 4, 2010 – 5:16 am
SED exhibitor Hewden, has partnered up with the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans. The project aims to help 182 unemployed young people into work, whilst giving them the opportunity to gain practical plant operator skills.
The £3 million plus project, run by Sustrans, will revitalise the National Cycle Network using Hewden plant, including excavators, dumpers and rollers across 13 locations in England.
Instructors from specialist training companies; Mentor and Eco Training will be educating the teams of previously unemployed adults (who are between 18 and 24) in the safe use of plant equipment. Once training is complete, the trainees and Hewden plant will begin work on the project.
All plant and site equipment for the project is being supplied by Hewden through its national branch network.
Hewden has also recently signed up to exhibit at SED 2011 at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby Northamptonshire from 17th - 19th May next year.
Click here for more information
September 4, 2010 – 5:16 am
Bobcat has improved and extended its range of mixing buckets for its compact loaders and smallest T2250 telehandler. The buckets allow users to mix, transport and pour concrete and cement faster than with a stand-alone mixer and they can discharge by the ‘traditional’ forward tip or by using the side discharge system (with or without a tube) for precise placement.
The existing 250-litre MB250SD mixing bucket now comes with a round top grate, a concrete bag cutter, a foldable side step and a stronger, more durability auger design that minimise residues left in the bucket. These features are also available on the new 200-litre MB200SD mixing bucket which designed to fit Bobcat’s S150 compact loaders and above.
Another addition to the range is a version of the MB250SD mixing bucket with a Quick-Tach system for use on Bobcat’s T2250 telehandler.
September 3, 2010 – 12:55 am
Once again Speedy is backing in the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) annual campaign to reduce the number of accidents caused by unsafe ladders by participating in the UK-wide Ladder Exchange.
The hire company, which is a member of the Ladder Association, is offering up to a 50% discount of new ladders in exchange for unsuitable ladders which it will recycle. It will roll out its exchange program this month across more than a third of its depots nationwide and it will run until the end of the year.
This is the fourth year that Speedy has participated in the scheme and it is also offering free online and leaflet guides on working safely at height and product selection.
Mark Turnbull, safety, health, environment and quality director at Speedy, said: “Despite the huge strides that have been made over the last five years in reducing accident rates on construction sites, working at height remains the most dangerous activity. Many incidents are caused by ageing and faulty equipment, which makes the ladder exchange such an important scheme…”
September 3, 2010 – 12:55 am
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is seeking feedback on potential changes to the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) slinger/signaller (S/S) category.
Currently the S/S category reflects the skills and knowledge required for crane operations and the test has to be taken on a crane with a hoist rope, 360º slew and full radius capabilities. This means candidates who normally use lorry loaders, telehandlers and excavators cannot use this type of equipment on the test which is causing considerable issues for CPCS
Endorsing the S/S category had been discussed but rejected as it was felt it would limit the utilisation of personnel between different types of lifting equipment on site and would require re-testing when certificating for additional types. Therefore the CPCS is proposing four alternatives:
1. Create an ‘All Lifting Types’ endorsement to the S/S category - based on the current test specification of using a crane, and provide further endorsements for non-hoist rope lifting equipment.
2. Remove the requirement of a hoist-rope equipped crane for the test, allowing the use of other lifting types.
3. Leave the current test requirements (of needing a crane) unchanged.
4. If option 1 is the preferred, create a hierarchy system whereby those tested on one type could automatically be awarded others. (For example somebody tested on a lorry loader would automatically be awarded the telehandler, excavator and masted forklift categories.)
Current CPCS testing requirements means that the question paper for S/S would relate to all endorsements so candidates wishing to add additional S/S endorsements (as in option 1) would only need to undertake the practical test.
Feedback on the preferred options should be sent to Haydn Steele at the CPA (haydn.steele@cpa.uk.net) by 10 September indicating the preferred option along with any supporting statements.
September 1, 2010 – 8:22 pm
Balfour Beatty has revised its guidance for the safe use of quick hitchs.
The new standard specifies that semi-automatic hitches and fully automatics with a single pin latching capture system are not acceptable and sets a phase-out date for manual couplers as the end of 2012. Fully automatic hitches with a secondary locking arrangement (as demonstrate in the photograph) are acceptable provided they will retain the attachment in the event of a total power failure and once the machine has been stopped.
Even with automatic couplers the standard requires the operator leave the cab to verify correct engagement. Furthermore, it specifies a 4m safe operating envelope for machines with quick couplers from which all personnel are excluded and places the responsibility for this on those planning the work.
The ultimate responsibility for the safe use of the quick coupler remains with the machine operator and they must not slew an attachment near or over other workers. Managers are responsible for ensuring all excavator operators on their site are properly certificated, aware of the risks associated with quick hitches and familiar with the correct procedures including the need for a visual check.
Also detailed in the standard are lifting procedures involving quick hitches including the need to deduct the weight of the coupler from the safe working load.
September 1, 2010 – 8:22 pm
Ovenden Earthmoving has taken delivery of a bespoke version of Volvo top-weight EC700C excavator.
The 70t machine is equipped with Kocurek long-reach arm to undertake dredging work at the London Gateway deep sea container port project near Thurrock which will be able to accept vessels with drafts up to 16.8m. A triple-articulated boom gives the machine a 25m maximum reach (from slew centre to the bucket edge) and a digging depth of 17m.
At the business end is the bucket linkage from a 36t EC360C (which will be fitted with buckets between 1.5m³ and 2.0m³) while a Prolec PCX - 3D GPS machine guidance system will aid the operator when digging under water. Additional counterweights increase stability and take the all-up weight to 76t while Volvo’s 16-litre engine provides 320kW of power and 2250Nm (at 1,350rpm).
August 31, 2010 – 2:50 pm
HSS has released an enhanced version of its LiveHire web-based hire management system that incorporates online estimated times of arrival (ETA) and electronic proof of delivery.
In addition to placing real-time off hires, making online payments and seeing financial statements (as well as bespoke KPI reports), HSS’ LiveHire customers can view live ETAs and get instant electronic proof of delivery/collection. These can include photographs of the equipment and the information is available to those working on site and in head offices to provide visibility of all hire activity.
The system uses fully integrated vehicle tracking and PDA systems for the delivery drivers to constantly update the ETA, allowing customers to organise their workforce and maximise site productivity. In addition, the PDA electronically captures signatures as proof of delivery/collection and enables photographs of the equipment’s condition to be taken and made instantly available on LiveHire.
HSS’ CEO Chris Davies said: “Our customers love HSS LiveHire. They tell us it’s already made their life easier… and now we’ve made it even better with the online ETAs and electronic proof of delivery.”
LiveHire forms part of HSS’ strategy to help customers manage ‘the true cost of hire’, which is influenced not only by the hire rate but also the length of hire, the number of pieces hired and the overall administration cost.
August 31, 2010 – 2:50 pm
Following an overhaul of the available training, the British Abrasives Federation (BAF) is rolling out a new list of approved training schemes.
The move follows the setting up of a group to pool information on accident investigations which found the majority were caused by poorly trained operators and products being incorrectly mounted or used. The group found confusion about the responsibilities of users and distributors of abrasives and inadequate training from specialist providers.
On finding much of the available training to be inadequate, the Federation devised a standard stipulating the content and delivery to which all abrasives safety training programmes should adhere and has introduced an accreditation scheme. Training companies meeting the latest criteria can be found on the BAF website - http://www.thebaf.org.uk/BAF_Training_Accredited_trainers_1.htm
The Federation is to inform its database of around 15,000 customers and more than a million users of their obligations and provide a list of competent training companies.
BAF chairman Dr Bill Gilmour, said: “Unless purchasers of abrasives are given the correct information as to their obligations to train not only operators and users but also specifiers and buyers, then the incidence of accidents is unlikely to reduce.”
August 27, 2010 – 10:17 pm
Citroën has enhanced the pre-bodied plant carriers in its ‘Ready to Run’ range and increased the maximum payload from 1,600kg to 1,680kg. The vehicle is based on a 3.5t Relay chassis cab to which bodybuilder KFS adds a galvanised steel drop frame rear chassis to reduce the main deck height to 530mm.
Three versions are available including two flat decks with 1,580mm between wheel arches. These have flat bed lengths of 3.0m, 4.0m and 4.6m in standard form while with the beaver tail version the options are 3.2m or 3.7m.
A third, wide-track version has 1,820mm between wheel arches and comes in flat deck or beaver tail configurations.
The all-aluminium bodies feature quick-release drop-sides which double as loading ramps. Priced from just £19,460 (ex VAT and delivery) while the options list includes a light bar, a 1.5t electric winch and a full-width storage locker.
August 26, 2010 – 5:24 pm
Demolition company Deltatrax, which trades as BDS Specialists in Demolition, has been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,073.28 costs after oil leaked into the Swanspool brook in Northamptonshire.
Northampton magistrates were told that while Deltatrax was demolishing a building at a former pie factory in Chester Road, Wellingborough, a member of the public reported seeing oil floating in the brook. Environment Agency (EA) officer Chris Willis traced the spill back to a discharge pipe at the rear of the demolition site which was locked as it was a Sunday.
The following day the officer found evidence of an oil spill around an oil storage tank that appeared contain red diesel and which was situated in a partly demolished building. Willis went back to the discharge point and found thick oil seeping through an earth bank that had been containing some of the oil.
In court the EA said: “The risk of pollution was foreseeable as oil was being stored in a tank which had no secondary containment, was not bunded or secure.” While Deltatrax pleaded guilty to the charge, its solicitor said that the firm replaced the tank once the deficiencies were brought to its attention.
After the hearing Willis said: “Oil in the water can harm wildlife, affect fish and taint drinking water at very low concentrations. This pollution was avoidable and continued even after it was brought to the attention of the company.”