Spillard News

Continuous industry related updates

The war continues: Spillard heads for the waste industry with a simple message ‘kill your blind spots’

The waste sector will receive an insight into the latest safety solutions for mobile equipment this week when Spillard Safety Systems makes its debut at the Southern Municipal Exhibition (SME) and also in June at Waste 2016.

‘Killing blind spots’ that cause injuries and even fatalities will be the Wolverhampton firm’s key messages and delegates will be able to see firsthand the latest solutions for improving vision, detection, warning and control.

This includes the recently launched Vehicle Collision Avoidance System (VCAS) 300 and Optronics 360°, the world’s first stand-alone surround view system for vehicles, offering the operator a bird’s eye, real-time view of the vehicle and its surroundings.

“The waste sector is one of our fastest growing markets and there seems to have been a real switch in focus by local authorities and companies to embrace technology to achieve maximum safety,” explained Craig Spillard, Director of Spillard Safety Systems.

“Education is a fundamental part of what we do and the SME event will be the start of a concerted push to show industry professionals the dangers associated with blind spots and what they can do to eliminate them.”

He continued: “It’s our first time here and we want people to start getting our name out there, including our visibility studies where one of our specialists will come out and provide a free study on your fleet of vehicles.”

Spillard Safety Systems, which invests £200,000 every year on R&D, will also be using SME to showcase its new and improved All-Round Control System (ARCS)

This product provides an integrated solution to managing different safety solutions all at one time.

Embedding the latest technology in one simple box, the ARCS provides drivers and fleet managers with complete peace of mind that all products are working and delivers operational safety when driving on today’s busy roads or manoeuvring in congested depots.

The system can also be configured and adapted to each customer, so vehicles can remain safe for the driver, workers and the public.

Spillard educates Skanska on blind spots and cycle safety

Spillard Safety Systems reinforced its position as a leading figure in mobile equipment safety this month when it was personally invited to the Skanska UK Management Conference.

The company was asked to exhibit around the growing issues of blind spots and cycle safety to more than 450 senior management from the civil engineering specialist in a bid to educate them around the increasing number of injuries and fatalities caused by this issue.

Experts from Spillard Safety Systems chatted to staff and talked them through blind spot maps and possible solutions, including the recently launched Optronics 360° – an aftermarket world first system for industrial vehicles that offers the operators a bird’s eye, real-time view of the vehicle and its surroundings.

Demonstrations were given on a big TV and through iPads so delegates could see firsthand the dangers and how best to negate them.

“Many people we spoke to were surprised at how many visibility studies we already had available, many of which included vehicles they use in their fleet,” explained Pete Spillard, Managing Director of Spillard Safety Systems.

“After showing them the blind spots and how this could affect site personnel and cyclists in particular, they were keen for us to get this information passed down to employees at an operational level.

“It’s another example of how important education is becoming to the sector. We’ve been very proactive at educating operators and providing them with the tools to increase their visual awareness to allow them to operate machinery as safely as possible. Now is the time to take the message top down, bottom up.”

He continued: “If you highlight the issue in an easy to understand ‘graphic’ way, then provide the solution, it’s normally a combination that companies and operators can easily respond to.”

“We are looking to build on this introduction with Skanska and have offered to present to smaller groups and pass on some of our visibility studies to them. There is also Hillhead 2016 on the horizon, which is a great way to meet more firms from the plant, quarrying and recycling sector.”

Spillard Safety Systems is an industry leader in the design, supply and installation of mobile safety equipment for the construction, mining, aggregates, transport and bus and coach sectors.

Established in 1992 by Vic Spillard, the family-run business has developed a range of solutions to increase awareness and reduce incidents for its customers, including new mirror technology, camera systems, Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems (VCAS) and innovative warning lighting.

NextGen SITE DUMPER SAFETY

CPN Consultant Editor Nick Johnson checks out the latest VCAS object detection system that has been developed to help make large site dumpers safer on site.

Objects detected

Articulated site dumpers with front mounted skips carrying as much as 10 tonnes are now commonplace on many UK construction sites. Yet some people question how these traditionally small machines were officially allowed to get bigger with their drivers still seated behind the load. Whilst seats have been raised, there can be instances where particularly well-heaped loads can severely restrict forward vision with potentially disastrous results..

At a time when some contractors are demanding 360° camera systems on excavators it in not surprising that the attention of more safety officers has turned to site dumper safety. So ways are being sought to counter any restriction of forward vision on site dumpers and one product that is gaining in popularity as a result is the VCAS (Vehicle Collision Avoidance System) produced by Spillard Safety Systems of Wolverhampton.

The original VCAS system was developed by Spillard in 2007 at the request of contractor Balfour Beatty following an accident on site. The first VCAS 200 went on sale in 2008 with front mounted sensors and a buzzer to provide an audible warning if a person or other object was detected in front of the machine. The system quickly found favour with safety conscious users including contractor Morgan Sindall.

Based on its operational experience with VCAS 200, Morgan Sindall felt that the system could be improved and Spillard was happy to oblige. Working with both this far-sighted contractor and the plant hire company GAP, the company developed the upgraded VCAS 300 system which first appeared at the Plantworx exhibition last year.

The new VCAS 300 system uses better ultra sonic sensors and provides the audible warning of “Object Detected” to the machine operator. There is also a new ‘night silent’ feature that can only be enabled by the Site Manager, or other responsible person, for use when noise would be disruptive to members of the public living nearby. The operator then relies on the system’s three red LED warning lights on the display box placed in front of the operator.

To prevent operator abuse, the new system’s ECU and 86 dB speaker are securely located under the floor plates of the dumper. Three non-contact sonic sensors are securely bolted onto the front of the dumper chassis under the skip on machines of over 3.0 tonnes capacity). Water proofed to IP68 standards, these sensors are designed to withstand adverse site and weather conditions.

To check out the effectiveness of VCAS 300, I travelled to a Morgan Sindall site in the West Midlands where the contractor was using a 9.0 tonne forward tipping Terex dumper hired in from GAP. Here the machine was given a very well heaped load and, under controlled test conditions, the ability of the VCAS 300 system to detect and warn the dumper driver of objects hidden from his view was evaluated.

The system passed the tests with flying colours – it warned of a person kneeling down 3.5m in front of the dumper and it ‘spotted’ a 900mm high cylindrical cone placed 500mm in front of the skip. Warning in both cases was both audible and by the illumination of the high intensity red LED lights (still effective in bright sunshine). No operator interaction is needed and the system, with a predetermined forward range of typically 4.0m, cannot be ignored.

The VCAS 300 system also warns if the operator’s seatbelt has not been buckled up by giving the audible alert “Seatbelt Not Engaged”. A green status light on the display box indicates that the whole system is functioning correctly.  

Morgan Sindall clearly has very high health and safety standards and the use of VCAS 300 is helping to keep its sites accident free. Meanwhile the GAP Group is busy promoting the safety advantages of the system to its other customers.

GAP Major Accounts Director Steve Cooper says, “We usually fit the VCAS system on to 6.0 tonne and 9.0 tonne dumpers but we do also get asked for it on 3.0 tonne dumpers. A lot of companies are now requesting a sensor system and they pay an additional charge for it.”

An interesting planned future development for the VCAS 300 system is the addition of a tilt alarm. If an inclinometer indicates that the dumper is approaching an unsafe operating angle, the operator will receive the verbal warning ”Safe Tilt Exceeded” thereby providing yet more safety protection.

Industry bosses call for collaborative approach to tackle blind spot issue

Closer collaboration between all levels of the plant and construction supply chain could hold the answer to removing blind spots that cause numerous injuries and fatalities every year.

This became apparent during the launch of Spillard Safety Systems’ latest objection detection system and was followed by a debate involving plant hire firms, vehicle manufacturers and major civil engineering and construction companies.

More than 30 people attended the unveiling of ‘VCAS 300’ and were given the opportunity to feedback on the new technology and engage in discussion about how the sector can improve safety at sites across the UK.

Delegates from Balfour Beatty, BAM, Morgan Sindall and GAP agreed that a more joined-up approach was needed to improve operator visibility, including better driver training, efficient installation processes, a willingness to pay more for advanced equipment and longer warranties.

“It’s very rare that you get so many tiers of the supply chain in one place at the same time,” explained Peter Spillard, Managing Director of Spillard Safety Systems.

“The demonstration of ‘VCAS 300’ and our blind spot mat really got people talking openly about the issue and how industry can play its part in reducing injuries and fatalities that occur due to poor visibility.”

He went on to add: “There was a real transparency at the event and people were happy to share experiences and best practice. It certainly seemed like there was a willingness to work together to improve the situation.

“This was evident in the eye-opening presentations by Steve Jarvis (BAM) and Brian Hume (Balfour Beatty), which provoked a lot of interesting debate among guests and a commitment to take a more collaborative approach in the future.”

Spillard has spent more than £30,000 and hundreds of hours on R&D in enhancing ‘VCAS 300’ to include a number of new features, such as a 4-metre vision field, warning lights for each main sensor for quicker identification of possible objects and a new ultrasonic tip sensor.

Bosses at the West Midlands-based firm expect sales to reach more than £350,000 in its first year, with interest already secured from the plant industry, highways and civil construction sectors.

Peter picked up the story: “We tasked our experts to come up with adaptable technology that could include extra speech alerts or warnings. There is also a night silent function, seatbelt warning, an even deeper viewing field (extended by 2 metres), an inclinometer to warn when a vehicle has reached its recommended inclination and a trio of warning lights to immediately tell you where the danger is located.”

He continued: “These advancements mean VCAS 300 will help to remove even more blind spots and increase awareness on construction site dumpers.

“This will hopefully mean fewer injuries and deaths on site and should also help firms to reduce insurance premiums, as they are taking every measure possible to protect the workforce and the public.”

Brian Hume, Health and Safety Manager at Balfour Beatty (Scotland Transerv), added his support:

“We’ve been working with Spillard Safety Systems since 1998 when the PUWER regulations first came in and have continued to invest in new solutions to blind spots ever since.

“VCAS 200 was a major step forward for industry, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done and VCAS 300 is another stride in the right direction.

“Technology is one answer to safety on site. The whole industry has a role to play – manufacturers, plant hire specialists, new solution providers – and this event has been a great forum for provoking discussion and getting all sides to put their thoughts across.”

The VCAS 300 launch caps a successful 2015 for Spillard Safety Systems, which employs 25 people at its R&D and manufacturing base in Four Ashes.

Demand for the firm’s new camera systems and digital video recorders has grown significantly as customers strive to reduce accidents, injuries and avoid expensive insurance claims.

Safety comes first: Using innovative products to kill the blind spots

Wolverhampton-based Spillard Safety Systems will be exhibiting amongst some of the biggest names in the industry at RWM 2015 on 15-17 September, such as SITA, Novelis, Dennis Eagle etc. With 650 exhibitors and sponsors attending, organizers at the NEC will be expecting to attract more than 13,000 spectators.

Investing in a stand at the show will allow the leading supplier of mobile safety equipment to show what can happen if visibility restrictions are not fully observed to the waste and recycling industry, where more accidents are caused than any other working environments.

“Eliminating the blind spots before they can cause injuries is something we are very passionate about at Spillard Safety Systems” explains Craig Spillard, Director. “It is important to educate people on this problem and fit new innovative technologies to aid workers to complete their jobs safely”.

Spillard Safety Systems have been providing industries with solutions since 1988 through pioneering technologies and visibility studies. Craig continues, “We determine that the best solution comes from understanding a problem. These free visibility studies allow us to increase all round awareness by providing the maximum information about the surroundings”.

Craig adds, “An annual commitment to R&D has led to the world’s first 360° surround view camera system which provides drivers with all-round image of their vehicle from a single screen. The vision of killing the blind spots before they can kill can now become a reality”.

“Having worked in the industry for many years, I definitely believe that Spillard Safety Systems have a lot to offer the industry, such as their unique cabling system. Its impressive fitting allows for changes to be made with minimal disruption – I have not seen anything similar on the market” claims Rob Stubbs, Fleet Inc, ambassador of Spillard Safety Systems.

Rob concludes, “From experience, service is greatly valued within the industry and support for customers is all offered internally giving them less headache overall”. 

Spillard launches new mobile classroom to eradicate ‘blind spots’

A new mobile classroom designed to showcase the blind spots that affect construction and quarry machinery and vehicles was launched recently at Plantworx 2015.

Wolverhampton-based Spillard Safety Systems has taken its message on the road to help reduce the number of injuries caused by accidents as a result of a lack of vision…an issue that is costing the sector up to £700m every year.

The leading supplier of mobile safety equipment has invested more than £75,000 on kitting out the vehicle, which displays information boards, photographs and eye-opening videos on what can happen if blind spots aren’t fully observed.

More than 200 students and industry professionals gave it the thumbs up at Plantworx, with even more people receiving their first look around at the Plant and Waste Recycling Show later that week.

“A lot of injuries and even fatalities can be prevented if companies and individuals recognise how dangerous ‘blind spots’ can be if they are not overcome by educating people or fitting specialised vision aids or even adopting new technologies,” explained Peter Spillard, Managing Director.

“Having carried out blind spot studies for over 20years, rather than wait for people to come to us we thought it would be a good idea to hit the road and take the message out to them and what better way to do that than through this new mobile classroom that brings it to life.”

He continued: “The feedback has been really positive and if we’ve saved one person from being injured than its introduction will have been worthwhile.”

Spillard Safety Systems will also be using the mobile classroom to showcase some possible solutions to blind spots, many of which have been designed using new vision studies and special blind spot maps that prove safety can be improved when the driver is more aware of their surroundings.

These include convex mirrors and the VCAS industrialised detection system that can detect objects within machine blind spot areas and cannot be turned off or ignored.

Thanks to an annual commitment to R&D, the firm is investing significant resources into it’s groundbreaking Optronics 360° camera, which provides drivers with all-round vision of their vehicle from a single screen.

Peter concluded: “This state of the art system allows us to ensure flexibility in achieving maximum 360 degree vision at all heights, providing a critical aid to reducing risk and saving lives. There is nothing like this in the marketplace from flexibility and delivery and we’re exciting to roll it out to even more clients.”

BALFOUR BEATTY REGIONAL CIVIL ENGINEERING INTRODUCES NEW SAFETY POLICY FOR DUMPERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SPILLARD SAFETY SYSTEMS

Following an accident with a wheeled dumper, Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering has been working in close co-operation with Spillard Safety Systems of Wolverhampton to produce a proximity warning system based on its proven Vehicle Collision Avoidance System (VCAS).

The success of this collaboration has resulted in Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering introducing a mandatory policy on all its sites, of every dumper of 6 tonne capacity and over being fitted with a 3-sensor VCAS 200 system.

This kit is designed to warn dumper operators of immediate danger at a pre-determined range if objects are detected within pre-configured primary sensing zones. The system uses powerful sonic sensing technology monitoring to a maximum range of 4 metres from any of the three sensors at any one time. The ‘always on’ system alerts the operator to any potential danger by a combination of a speech alert, 85 db tone sounder and high intensity LED lights. 

Commenting on the new policy, Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering’s health & safety manager Brian Hume said: “We recognise that dangers can arise due to dumper operators having restricted visibility on larger dumpers and we are determined that all such machines working on our sites are made as safe as possible using the latest technology.”

Mr. Hume continued: “Besides Spillard, we have also been working  in close co-operation with the Health & Safety Executive and Mulholland Plant Hire in Scotland as well as GAP Group across the UK in the development of a suitable system. The VCAS system has been well trialled and is already in use on many of our sites and, in conjunction with our supply chain, we are now in a position to make this policy mandatory from the 1st January 2009.”

In fact, Mr. Hume is a member of the HSE’s Site Safe Scotland committee and, according to James Skilling its principal construction inspector for Scotland: “Although operators must of course always remain vigilant, I think the new system is an important tool to help control the risks associated when mixing man and machine on construction sites and I commend Balfour Beatty on its decision to introduce its new policy.”

To enable hirers to meet the requirements of the new policy, Balfour Beatty will be making a series of presentations to hire companies around the UK, with help from Spillard Safety Systems, to explain why the policy is being implemented and what steps need to be taken to meet the new requirements.

Mr. Hume is particularly keen to point out that the new policy is not a replacement for the well-established site segregation of plant and people but a valuable extension to good site practice.

No Christmas Card Appeal.

Spillard Safety Systems has again decided to donate the money ususally spent on sending Christmas cards to CRASH ‘no Christmas card appeal’

Statement from CRASH

‘Christmas puts a particularly heavy strain on our limited resources and every pound you give will make a real difference to someone’s life. In 2007 we had a record number of companies supporting the appeal and raised a staggering amount of £95,000 all of which will go towards helping the homelessness projects we are supporting around the country. Read about the success of past appeals below.’

for more information please visit www.crash.org.uk

AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES UP-GRADES LEVELS OF PLANT SAFETY AT TORR & CALLOW ROCK QUARRIES

Spillard Safety Systems of Wolverhampton has recently completed the installation of a wide range of its equipment onto both new and ex-Foster Yeoman mobile plant based in Somerset at Torr Quarry near Shepton Mallett and Callow Rock Quarry near Cheddar.

These limestone quarries are now in the hands of Aggregate Industries and Spillard was asked to up-grade approximately 50 machines to bring them up to the company’s required safety standard.

In fact, Clive Jenkins, CEO of Aggregate Industries, recently stated: “Despite the current downturn and reduction in overall output, there must be no compromises when it comes to matters relating to safety.”

The whole process of raising levels of plant safety at Torr and Callow Rock dates back approximately 12 months when Spillard began to fit equipment such as cameras, convex mirrors, electronic lap belts, full harness seats, radar systems, white noise reversing alarms and high intensity blue reverse lights.

This exercise has now been completed on all mobile plant from small skid steer loaders up to a pair of recently delivered Cat 992 wheeled loaders.

NEW CAB DOOR ENTRY LIGHT SYSTEM FROM SPILLARD SAFETY SYSTEMS

Spillard Safety Systems of Wolverhampton has recently developed a cab door entry light system in conjunction with Tarmac National Contracting which has now been fitted to its new fleet of 41 JCB Streetmasters.

Commenting on the new system, Tarmac’s national plant manager Steve Wragg said: “Because an increasing volume of our work now takes place at night we were very keen to provide some sort of lighting on our Streetmaster fleet which would enable operators to get in and out in complete safety and without the fear of twisting an ankle when climbing out onto uneven ground.”

Mr. Wragg continued: “Our quarry division has enjoyed a long working relationship with the team at Spillard Safety Systems and so they were our first choice to help us with the development of a suitable system, having already supplied us with cameras and mirrors over the last three years.” 

In fact, Spillard Safety Systems only took about a month to create a suitable entry light for the Streetmaster which is switched on for a pre-determined number of seconds each time the cab door is opened and is further controlled by a roof mounted photocell which ensures the light is only activated after dusk.
 The light itself is from Spillard’s new range of work lights and is a 70 watt unit comprising of 7 high intensity light emitting diodes. This type of light has been chosen on grounds of environment suitability as it offers both long life and a minimal battery drain of less than one amp.

According to Pete Spillard, “With access/egress at the forefront of safety discussions at the moment, illumination of these solutions also needs to be considered, working closly with the likes of Tarmac, we are now well placed to satisfy future demand for a suitable, cost-effective lighting system whether that be automatic, remote or hardwired.”

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