Spillard News

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.