| Dumper radio modifications |
One of the dangers related to mobile plant activity concerns dumptrucks with raised bodies risking collision with overhead obstacles such as pipelines, electricity cables, conveyors etc. The changes made at this site are to the Volvo A25C dumper.
As standard, this dumper is fitted with a body-up buzzer and a red hazard warning flashing light on the dashboard in the cab. To some extent this serves to alert the drivers of the hazard. There was a concern that the amount of noise generated inside a dumper, such as the two way radio, standard radio and engine running noises, could drown out the sound of the warning buzzer made when body work was raised.
This could allow the driver to overlook the fact that the body of his vehicle was still in a raised position.
To overcome this issue an electrical device was installed in the cab circuitry to mute the main radio whilst the dumper truck bodywork was in the raised position. This allowed the operator of the truck to clearly hear the body-up buzzer in the cab. An additional light was also incorporated into the dashboard to indicate raised body.
These modifications have given drivers of mobile plant a greater awareness of raised body on their vehicles and thereby reduced the chances of a collision with overhead equipment. |