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manual handling & storage: 59
Enhancements to delivery of bitumen
Hanson Aggregates > Yorkshire Asphalt, West Yorkshire
> 01274 606479
The workforce at this asphalt plant has worked together
with management and suppliers to devise a number of
improvements to the bitumen delivery system. Personnel now
receive better training, a clearer key control system for the
storage tanks is in operation, new signage is in place and the
coupling points for the delivery pipe have been enhanced. The
new-style flange coupling involves a “drop in”, square-shaped
slot arrangement. The male connection on the delivery hose
is lowered into a female connection on the tank inlet pipe.
Once in place, the driver can secure the fixing bolts without needing to hold the pipe, hence reducing the
physical effort that was necessary previously.
The relatively inexpensive measures taken have generated positive feedback and will be rolled out to other
Hanson sites.
>
Improvements to bitumen delivery/storage
Tarmac Northern > Cairneyhill Quarry, North Lanarkshire > 01236 842351
Following internal safety audits, Tarmac Northern has made a number of improvements to its process of
delivering and storing bitumen. They include:
• a walkway from the filler silos allows access direct from the plant tower, which has no vertical ladders
(compare with entry 98 on page 31 of the QPA Health & Safety Best Practice Awards Guide 2001)
• laying a binder course covered by a high stone content surface for tankers to safely manoeuvre. New
drainage channels have also been cut
• the route between the delivery point and the weighbridge has been improved by removing water tanks.
Plans have also been made to extend the amount of surfaced roads in this area
• independent high level alarms have been installed on each tank. The system sends an email to the
manager and coating plant supervisor if an alarm is triggered.
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Bitumen delivery – shielding fill points
and providing PPE
Tarmac Central > Ballidon Quarry, Derbyshire
> 01355 390301
The close proximity of fill points for bitumen tanks to other
activities on site was recognised as a potential hazard. A plant
supervisor also felt that suitable protective equipment for
discharge of hot bitumen
should be immediately to hand.
The solution to the first
problem was to install substantial Perspex screens enclosing the fill point
and bitumen tank, so that any spillage or discharge would be contained
by the screen, but the delivery process could still be monitored. The
protective equipment, including helmet, full face visor and neck guard,
suitable gloves and guidance on dealing with bitumen spillages, is now
housed in a weather-proof, highly visible plastic grit box.