Seven top tips to being safe and productive
Nov 29, 2016
David Banks, Sales Manager - Waste & Recycling Sector at JCB, offers a guide to some of the innovative design features that make Waste and Recycling vehicles both safe and productive.
While speed, efficiency, output, and value for money are essential for any operation – none of these factors should ever trump safety. It is the unflinching focus on safety across all areas of industry that has resulted in a significant fall in the rate of workplace accidents over the last ten years. But as industries evolve, so too will risk – so the focus on safety should continue to be unrelenting. As Martin Temple, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chair said: "Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, but we should always be looking to improve and to prevent incidents that cost lives."
Driven by the push for more recycling and reduced landfill, the Waste and Recycling industry is one of of course vital. In addition given that large vehicles moving around increasingly busy waste and recycling sites pose one of the greatest safety hazards, then a significant step to mitigating accident risk can be taken by selecting vehicles such as tele-handlers, lift trucks and wheeled loading shovels that have been designed with safety in mind.
In fact with innovative design, features that improve safety can also boost productivity. Take JCB's Teletruk, for example. Thanks to the forward reach ability of its telescopic boom the Teletruk can load and offload pallets of recycled items from just one side of a trailer – unlike a traditional masted forklift. Eliminating the need to travel to both sides of a lorry will drastically reduce the risk of an accident – furthermore: it saves loading/unloading time and 50% of yard space.
Numerous safety features can be found on in a wide range of vehicles commonly operated by waste and recycling sites. Here are seven tips to selecting a vehicle with safety in mind.
- Operator Visibility. The vehicle's cab should offer all round visibility for the operator and a clear view of the vehicle's extremities. A panoramic front screen and a large roof screen will help. These features are made possible thanks to the use of direct glazing, which absorbs some of the torsional body loadings, thus increasing rigidity and strength. It's important to keep the screen clear on what can be mucky sites. Well designed front fender flaps, such as can be found on The JCB 560-80 Wastemaster telehandler, help keep screens clean by minimising forward spray, in addition to decreasing debris build-up on the machine. Sufficient demisting vents and mirrors should be positioned so that they are unobscured by the cabin's pillars or bonnet. Heated mirrors will clear condensation quickly to allow the vehicle to become operational without delay.
- Vehicle Visibility. Features to improve a vehicle's visibility include high-vis chevrons, presence beacons, flashing rear beacons and a rear detection system. These will make people aware of the vehicle's location at all times. A reversing alarm will alert bystanders to vehicle movements at all times.
- Access. There's a double edge to access when it comes to safety: on one hand, an operator should be able to access a vehicle without hazard. This will require several points of contact for entering and exiting the machine with evenly spaced access steps that are purposely inclined to ensure safe passage. On the other hand, unwarranted access to the machine's hazardous areas should be prevented. Take for example the JCB 457 Wheeled Loading Shovel. It has red and white chevrons at the rear of the machine, and gated entry to an electronically operated one-piece engine compartment located safely at ground level. This configuration means operators need not access the top area of the machine, where there is a risk of slipping or falling – especially in icy or wet weather conditions.
There will be a reduced risk to technicians and operators conducting routine maintenance and inspections on vehicles that allow daily checks to be conducted from inside the cab. This will also be far more efficient. - Operator comfort: Because waste and recycling vehicles generally operate long shifts, it is crucial for an operator to be comfortable so they are better able to concentrate on the task in hand. Cab design should cater for a variety of shapes and sizes of operator. Isolator mounted cabs with reduce vibrations and noise reduction will keep things quiet. An ergonomic cab will allow the operator to intuitively see and reach the controls and operate with minimal effort. Over the course of a shift these features will minimise fatigue and any consequential drop in concentration.
- Operator protection. Meeting the ROPS and FOPS (Roll Over and Falling Over Protection Regulations) is, of course, essential. A roll over protection structure will provide complete assurance should the unthinkable happen. Dust is common at waste and recycling sites – sometimes it can be harmful. A cab that is positively pressurised against dust will ensure the driver has clean air. Large filters will be harder to block and will ensure constant airflow.
- Lighting. Front and rear work lights give good all-round illumination, while LED lights allow ultimate productivity and safety in the dark. Where the vehicle has a rear hitch – such as on JCB 560-80 Wastemaster telehandler – a work light will make for a safe and efficient operation.
- Technology. There are numerous technological developments that can enhance vehicle safety. For example: Adaptive Load Control technology to automatically control hydraulic operation, helping to maintain vehicle stability; Hose Burst Check Valves to protect the rams from collapse in the event of a hose failure; an interlocking seatbelt preventing an operator starting the machine until the seatbelt is fastened; telematics to provide information and performance monitoring, allowing fleet managers and owners have remote access to real-time machine working data, including operating hours and fault codes; and automotive style power brakes that offer proportional braking throughout pedal travel, delivering improved braking and safe stopping.
JCB has been serving the Waste & Recycling Industry for 30 years, and in that time it has listened closely to customer requirements. Safety is a clear priority and every JCB Wastemaster machine is fitted with a range of safety features that delivers piece of mind in and around the Waste & Recycling facility. Performance is nothing without a safe environment and when operators know they are well protected they can concentrate on the task in hand. So not only will they be safe – they will be productive also.
