EXPERT ADVICE
early failures and potentially impact any guarantees the contractor may have made about the performance of the work being completed .”
Clearly the machine operator needs to know what they are doing during their walk-around inspection and when seated in the operator ’ s compartment operating the machine .
“ While operating a roller might seem rather basic , as it consists mostly of going back and forth preferably in a certain pattern , it is absolutely important that the operator not only knows about the different functions of the equipment , but first and foremost knows how to stop the unit and where the emergency stop button is located ,” stated Bert Erdmann , product manager-compaction for BOMAG America , Ridgeway , South Carolina . “ Once the safety aspects have been covered , including instructing the operator to stay safe and alert at all times , and to stay far enough behind the paver , the compaction machine needs to operate at an adequate and safe distance from the asphalt paver to prevent common accidental ‘ run ins ’ with the paver screed !
“ Rolling patterns can be established next , and covering the importance of the use of water on the steel drums to keep them from picking up asphalt . It would also be beneficial for the operator to have a basic understanding of asphalt temperature , to recognize the somewhat ‘ narrow timeframe ’ during which the material can still be compacted with vibratory drums , and when vibration should no longer be used to prevent ‘ over compaction ,’ when crushing the asphalt aggregate can occur .”
Operator performance has become more and more critical to the bottom-line success of paving jobs . The operator needs to adapt to different jobsite conditions by using all of the features offered on an asphalt roller .
The operator is just as important as the machine . A contractor can have the best machine in the world , but if the operator is not running it at the right settings and the right speed , it can affect the quality of the mat , and the all-important life of the road .
“ Most roller manufacturers , in conjunction with their dealers , offer training for end-users of their equipment ,” Erdmann said . “ That training is available in a variety of forms , including group seminars , hands-on courses or one-on-one training on the jobsite or at the manufacturer ’ s training grounds .
“ Often it is beneficial to an operator to understand why , for example , certain rolling patterns are being established , what the benefits are , or the possible disadvantages or potential problems rather than just ‘ doing as one is told .’ Knowing when to slow down or how to read the machine ’ s technology outputs can take the guess work out and ensure the job is optimized for time , and to corroborate , verify , and document job results .”
Operator training helps to minimize some of the most common mistakes when operating a compaction roller ... mistakes that can result in corrugated or “ washboard ” roads with dips , divots and indentations that compromise mat quality and road life .
Training can also equip operators with the knowledge to overcome hurdles that can crop up on a project , such as difficult
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September 2021