Hey folks. We are getting some new equipment theese days. I am doing a security judgement/evaluation on the use of the equipment to see if we need to improve things on the machines, education, tools etc. Do somebody of you out there have any proposals of changes that can be made to standard construction material to improve safety? I am looking at artics, graders, dozers, drilling riggs and wheel loaders. I know the producers is doing a good job, but i am sure some of you guys have done som smart modifications. For example; adding a backing camera, extra mirrors, etc I will be gratefull for all proposals
A couple that come to mind: Extra lighting, if working at night. Guards on moving parts that the operator can come into contact with while doing checks when the machine is running, ex. cooling fan. Window tinting to reduce driver fatigue, not recommended for night operations. Fire suppression system. Thats all I can think of right now.
On the graders you might want to add a mirror on the front end. We have a lot of hidden intersections and at times the front end of the grader is well out onto the road before the operator can see both ways. We mounted a mirror on the front headlight brace, angled to the side so that the operator can see if any traffic is coming before the front end is out into the lane. Works great.
Grab handles for any spot where a operator has to climb up onto. Non slip surfaces on places the operator has to walk on.
I'm all for the grabhandles and steps. Our 570A jd blade steps were so high up it was uncomfortable to climb up to say the least. We added a little extra to the width of the bottom step and then a chain looped around it making a step(kinda) closer to the ground and sways so hopefully it won't get tore off. It has been on there for three years and really comes in handy when you are on a ditchbank and have to step off on the slope or in a hole. It still needs another handhold though. My spine is pinned together with rods and screws so any climbing is difficult. We even put a step made out of 1/2" square rod that folds up on the bottom of the bumper of the ford F-250 service truck and makes it real easy to step on it, then on the bumper. It will fold up going forward but you have to remember to lift it up manually it you know you are going to back over dirt piles or windrows. It has been on there 2 years now and hasn't been ripped off. After we put it on we saw a folding truck step in a Northern catalog and they wanted $60.00 for it. We all thought we invented something?????
I find with some machines there isn't enough places to grab onto and end up grabbing onto something that isn't something you can get a firm grip on. Your wearing winter clothing you can't move as easy and that step that is okay in the summer when your not hindered by layers of clothes but when your wearing long john underwear, jeans then carhart overalls.
:notworthy:notworthy :notworthy This is very good! I am very glad for the proposoals you have given here. And i am going to test out most of them. CB: The fire suppression is a topic that i have discussed with others. I understand the need on big machinery, from ap 80 000 lbs and up. Do you have any experience that it is usefull on "smaller" machinery? (arguments for me... ) Of course we have the standard 4 lbs hand extinguisher, but i am thinking of an automatic/manual bigger system. Grader4me: You don't have any pic's of the mirrors? I beliewe it would be nessecery with two, cause when you go down a street with bad visibility its normaly narrow. 812harleys: I agree with you on the steps. Our 976 grader has a rubber ladder that moves if you hit it with the blade. I am not 100% satisfied with the patent, because you destroy the bolt holes if you bend it under the cabin by accident. And it will move under the cabin the next time you use it. I am looking at the rubber ladder from my atlas copco D7 rigg, it looks like a better patent. Your retractable ladder is/has been standard on forrest machinery for many years. These patents could be usefull on contruction machinery too...hint to you production guy's On some of our vehicles the lowest step is made of a wire that is clamped at the ends making a cind of circle that you step in. This makes it stiff enough for climbing, though flexing away if hit. We also got one patent where the step is of aluminium and the "sides" is steel wire. This one is even stiffer than the one only of wire. But can be destroyd by rocks and timber. If anyone else got any suggestions, please bring them on.:drinkup I am sure a thread like this one can improve security and reduse accidents for many of us. It's better to learn from others mistaces/accidents, rather than doing them by ourselves.
No, I don't have any pictures. On our Champion Graders we have an extra set of headlights on the very front of the machine. These headlights are mounted on the top of tubed steel that is approx. 3 feet high. The reason for this type of mount is so that when the front plow is lifted the headlights are not blocked off. The mirror is mounted on this brace. Hope this helps?
Thanks very much:notworthy I will make a bracket beside our lights in front on the new 976 to test it out. I'll find a god spot after some testing...(the funny part of the job, some prototypework is always funny ) Wich you a nice weekend!
You are very welcome sir
The nice thing about any type of suppression "system" is that its easily operated. When a fire starts the operator pulls the pin, hits the discharge button and runs to a safe distance. The "system" takes care of the rest. There are 2 types of systems, automatic and manual. The automatic has sensors that detect high temperature changes and automatically discharge the retardant. I have no experience with these but I'm sure a dealer could give you a "pros and cons" rundown on the 2 types of systems. The manual system has a button you press on the way out of the cab to discharge the system. From experience, these work great. All our equipment here at the quarry is equipped with them. These systems would work on smaller equipment too because you are putting the operator in a safe zone instead of fighting the fire with a hand held extinguisher. This keeps him away from possible explosions, hazardous fumes, etc. If an operator does not know how to properly extinguish a fire then he can be doing more harm than good. The systems take all these unknowns out of the equation.
Nice CB:notworthy :notworthy You got a lot of good arguments there. I belewe its bether to spend 5 minutes of instruction on the pin and button, than a day on a fire course. Fire courses is a pain in the ass, because it demands a qualified instructor on a special area, with special equipment. And a permit for burning diesel/gasoline from the authoroties. I bet the law is stricter here than in Canada.(no offence grader4me.) I have some experience with the automatic systems in battle tanks. Feeling strings in the engine compartment, stops engine, automatic closure of all openings and then Nitrogen bottles with a exploding cap to open the bottle. There is hydraulic acumulators and sylinders that shuts all openings. excaust, air, cooling, ventilation and such. Makes the roof plate on the engine compartment bulge when it fills the engine-room. Shoots first one, then the second bottle,(if nes.) the third has to be shot manualy. Costs som money to maintain though, and a hightec system. you have to check the sensor cable, pressurise bottles, check acumulators, sylinders, gaskets, controll box and so on.
Lol... No offence taken MKTEF. Good to see you "fired up" a bit
Mobile machine lock-out Hi MKTEF... a system that is in use at some of the mines and mills I've been to is a lock-out system on mobile equipment. This prevents anyone starting the engine or powering it up whilst its being worked on. When a mechanic is working on a machine a numbered padlock is attached to the battery switch, up to four locks can be used for mechanic, welders electricians etc. The machine can't be started until all of the locks are removed. Years ago I was working on a big loader without any lock-out system and was just about to start it and noticed a guy from an air conditioning company had started replacing the AC compressor in the fan area without telling anyone... if I'd have started the engine the fan would probably had ripped his arms off
What we came up with is a 11'' x 8'' yellow sign that has "do not operate" on it. This sign is attached to the steering wheel of the unit while work is being carried out, or if the unit is broke down. Each unit carries two of these signs. Although the procedures stated above are a safer approach, as the machine cannot be started until the locks are removed, the "do not operate" sign seems to be working good for us. When these signs/tags are used the machine has to be in a "zero energy state" which means master switch has to be off, keys removed etc..
You both have good arguments for the sign and padlocks. The padlock is realy bulletproof, to say so. All our Komatsu equipment is delivered with a sign like that. Not so big, but you hang it by the keyhole, and everybody sees it. Standard tool delivered by Komatsu. And i will by more for the rest of our equipment. Thanks guy's, do you have more proposals?:drinkup
Legal requirement here (UK) to Fit reverse cameras to mining equipment. Dont wire them up wrong :crazy OR you will get a reversed-mirror image. Fire suppression system. Also another good policey. Watch out for the little red pipes that litter machine. Break these and your a Snowman Plus £650 out of pocket ointhead Ross