The solution involves using a warning light instead of audio warning alarms when working at night in a residential area.
The hire company, working in partnership with its supplier Spillard Safety Systems, has provided dumpers to Balfour Beatty for a contract in London where road works are taking place to convert a one-way street to carry two-way traffic.
VCAS is a vehicle safety enhancement system that warns operators of immediate dangers within a predetermined range. Three sensors are mounted on the front of the dumper to monitor obstructions; the sensors send a signal and an audible alarm sounds.
Balfour Beatty’s site is near a residential area and so noise levels needed to be kept ultra-low to avoid disturbance to residents at night. Working with VCAS provider Spillard, A-Plant discussed a number of options to safely modify the audible sensors attached to the dumpers. The solution was to turn the audio warning alarms off at night and fit a warning light as the alert during the night.
A-Plant said that this provides vital assistance on larger dumpers where visibility immediately in front of the skip is very limited. A 4m primary sensing zone can be achieved.
Beatty’s site manager Eddie Taper said: “We are always looking at ways of becoming a more considerate constructor and minimising the disruption and disturbance we cause to our neighbours is part of this. The equipment which A-Plant is incorporating into its plant and equipment is helping us to achieve this while still meeting our objective of keeping our workforce safe on site and we are pleased with how the implementation has gone so far.”
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