Andrew Jones

More documents

Recommendations

Info

46 ROAD WORKER SAFETY OCTOBER 2015 Driven by safety Richard Smith, joint managing director of Blakedale discusses the importance of working collaboratively with road workers to shape and evolve the safety provided by specialist traffic management and support vehicles “Safety in this industry has come a long way over the years” Richard Smith As a family owned and run business with first hand experience of the dangers of working on live carriageways, Blakedale has a very personal understanding of and commitment to improving road worker safety. Both my father and I have a history of working on the motorways. In the 1980s and 90s we ran a successful motorway lighting installation company; and in the 70s, dad was the ‘go to man’ for digging the trenches required on the network of motorways that were springing up in the North West. The safety of road workers is very close to all our hearts. Our family have experience from two perspectives – we have worked in these harsh conditions, back in the days when workers often only had hard hats, hazard lights and a few cones for protection; and we have also been the relatives and loved ones waiting at home on those treacherous winter nights. Thankfully, however, safety in this industry has come a long way over the years, but there is always more work to be done. When it comes to potentially saving lives – not only the lives of road workers, but also the lives of road users – companies cannot afford to cut corners. Maximising the safety of vehicles used in these hostile environments should be a proactive and constantly evolving process. Gearing up the industry With the turn of the new millennium came a greater focus on working practices on the motorway networks, driven by health and safety concerns. This led to a growing demand for a revolutionary safety device known as a ‘crash cushion’ or impact protection vehicle. It was around this time that Blakedale started supplying these and other specialist vehicles – the family themselves driven by a desire to ensure they are geared up to provide as much protection as possible. Going the extra mile There are various Highways England, FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) and TFL (Transport for London) standards and rules governing the safety design of traffic management and support vehicles, but companies should always look for suppliers who can demonstrate a commitment to going the extra mile. Operator safety and public awareness of vehicles working on the road networks is critical. All vehicles should therefore be conspicuous in colour and fitted with safety equipment and features such as CCTV cameras, work lights, beacons, warning alarms, reverse alarms, suitable seating, high visibility chevrons, decals and body striping. When it comes to the safety of their vehicles, good suppliers should not only seek to comply with, but to exceed current industry standards. Examples of how we’re doing this are the eight additional strobe lights we fit to all our vehicles. We also fit side-scan CCTV cameras as standard, when these are currently only required when working in TfL areas. Safety and specification will continue to improve, and as recently as last month it has been agreed that we will now fit all new builds with a multi-camera system for additional safety of the workforce and the public. Collaborating and evolving Above all, companies should look to suppliers who are working collaboratively with road workers to identify and understand the challenges they face on a daily basis – and are translating this into developing new solutions. I like to get out there and talk to the people who are using our vehicles, so I regularly deliver them to site. Many of the operatives I meet are unaware that I am one of the managing directors, so I am able to gain honest and valuable feedback. The information gained from maintenance call-outs is just as important to the build and evolution process. Suppliers should be asking what the most common issues are and how they can be resolved. We realised that the majority of maintenance requests for our crash cushions were often electrical. Having previously outsourced electrics, this drove us to bring this element in house and appoint our own specialist technicians. This means we are able to keep a much closer eye on the quality of the electrics fitted to all our vehicles, and we have significantly reduced call-outs as a result. In the last 18 months we have invested over £2 million on new vehicles which is due to continue well into 2016 and beyond.
SURFACE DRESSING MICROASPHALT SLURRY SURFACING RETREAD DURAPATCH KIELY Bros. Sealing the future of our carriageways and footways. KIELY Bros. is a leading specialist carriageway and footway Surface Treatments contractor. A complete package of prepatching and surface treatments is provided to ensure the lives of carriageways and footways are maintained for years to come. If you would like more information on our range of products, help or advice with your Surface Treatment problems call Stephen Port on 0121 772 3800 or e-mail stephen@kielybros.co.uk Head Office: 135 Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham B9 4XE www.kielybros.co.uk BS EN ISO 9001 : 2008 Certificate No. 2327 FIRST TIME PERMANENT PATCHING MATERIALS Reduce your total cost of ownership! Use with SCJ Seal and Tack Coat Spray and Instaband ECO overbanding tape for a complete repair system. ECO overbanding tape For further information please call 01827 871871 or email ultracrete@instarmac.co.uk ultracrete.co.uk HAPAS Approved since 2002 12045_Instarmac181x125_HP_ad.indd 1 24/08/2015 11:07
Page 1 and 2: The ONE and only magazine dedicated
Page 3: www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk OCTOBER
Page 6 and 7: 6 INDUSTRY ROUND-UP OCTOBER 2015 ww
Page 8 and 9: 8 COMPANIES & CONTRACTS OCTOBER 201
Page 10 and 11: 10 VIEWPOINT OCTOBER 2015 A change
Page 12 and 13: 12 HIGHWAYS ENGLAND Supporting econ
Page 15 and 16: www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk OCTOBER
Page 17 and 18: Protecting your workforce and the p
Page 19 and 20: Highways Agency Type Approved to TR
Page 22 and 23: HW_SDI_JUL09 28/02/2013 15:58 Page
Page 25 and 26: www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk OCTOBER
Page 27 and 28: Stop-Go Camera Safety Sign System P
Page 30 and 31: Shell Bitumen INTERNATIONAL AWARD W
Page 32 and 33: 32 ROAD MAINTENANCE OCTOBER 2015 Re
Page 34 and 35: 34 ROAD MAINTENANCE Digitising the
Page 36 and 37: PRINT & ONLINE This bumper standalo
Page 38 and 39: IBAA (Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggreg
Page 40 and 41: 40 TRAFFIC CALMING OCTOBER 2015 www
Page 42 and 43: A USL Group Company High performanc
Page 44: 44 ROAD WORKER SAFETY OCTOBER 2015
Page 50 and 51: Cleveland Salt NATURAL, SUSTAINABLE
Page 52 and 53: 52 WINTER MAINTENANCE OCTOBER 2015
Page 54 and 55: thinking innovation Exceptional thi
Page 56 and 57: 56 PARKING OCTOBER 2015 Making park
Page 58 and 59: 015 Be seen -Be safe Order your hig
Page 60 and 61: 60 LEGAL OCTOBER 2015 www.highwaysm
Page 62 and 63: 62 IHE NEWS OCTOBER 2015 www.theihe
Page 64 and 65: 64 SKILLS & RECRUITMENT OCTOBER 201
Page 66 and 67: 66 RANTY HIGHWAYMAN OCTOBER 2015 ww
Page 68: Infrared Patch Heater Trailer Hot B

Andrew Jones

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?