DESCRIPTION
At Hanson Aggregates’ Needingworth quarry the stock yard can change on a daily basis, with stocks moving, depleting and or being added too. The loading shovel operators were constantly exiting their machines to move, recover or even find the old stockpile identification signs. The signs were often lost within the retreating stockpile or were run over by the vehicles being loaded. When this occurred, it created potential slip, trip or fall hazards and could damage transport on the site.
The traditional signpost, which was fixed into an old metal drum filled with concrete, was always found to be unmovable, due to the uncertainty of the weight distribution, the manual handling issues and the dangers of sharp edges from metal fatigue.
The shovel drivers suggested a new design at a weekly meeting. This idea was followed up with a local fabricator and a prototype created. The first model was not sturdy enough and fell over in high winds. The second version was created in the on-site workshop and was found to be very successful, this bespoke “movable stock sign” then went into full production.
The sign can be lifted and placed into position by using a unique design that matches the measurements of the loading shovel buckets. It is picked up by placing the top lip of the loading shovel bucket in a bespoke notch welded to the upright and the bottom lip of the bucket into the lower angle of the bottom part of the base cross.
The numerical signs were cut from flat steel and painted to match the site QA dockets. The signs were placed on to the upright of a steel cross base.
BENEFITS
- Clear marking of stockpiles
- Drivers no longer having to exit shovel to move signs
- Reduced risk of slips, trips and falls for drivers
- Removal of hazards created by old signs
- Removal of manual handling hazard
- Sign being used for other purposes, directions, marking car parks
- Collection wagons know where they need to go
- Reduction in waiting time due to improved efficiency