SUB FEATURE photo courtesy of Road Widener LLC .
The Road to Safety Starts with Stability
Compaction roller attachments can increase the efficiency and versatility of a contractor ’ s existing fleet by allowing them to work on a variety of road construction and utility repair projects , all with the equipment they are already familiar with .
How offset compaction roller attachments ensure a safer jobsite
By Lynn Marsh , Road Widener LLC President
S afety is the highest priority on any construction jobsite , but not every equipment solution aids in attaining that safety goal . In fact , in 2020 , more than 174,100 injuries and 124 deaths occurred on construction jobsites throughout the United States . As alarming as those numbers are , the true picture could have been much worse . Those statistics only encompass reported cases . Many jobsite accidents and near misses – with potentially dire consequences – are never reported .
The United States Department of Transportation ( US- DOT ) has made a significant move toward improved safety with its initiative to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2050 . Not only does this apply to crashes due to highway traffic , but it also protects construction workers when building or repairing roads in both urban and rural areas .
The Moving to Zero movement , skyrocketing insurance premiums and injury risk is making safety features a key consideration for most contractors , prompting manufacturers in all segments to focus on innovations to eliminate that danger .
Compaction equipment is a prime example of a potentially problematic design , especially on uneven or side-sloped surfaces . It is not uncommon for road construction crews to witness a silent rollover , watching their crewmember jump to safety when the equipment they are operating unexpectedly gives way to gravity while compacting a steep slope . Many ride-on compaction rollers often succumb to rollover accidents due to their rigid design and high center of gravity , which offers little protection or stability for crew members .
Certain manufacturers are taking steps to eliminate this far too common jobsite incident and are doing so in the form of an attachment pair with equipment they already own . Featuring an offset arm , crews can safely and effectively compact material from flat ground using the compaction attachment — allowing for safe work at virtually any angle .
The Safety is in the Design
This new approach to compaction is achieved by relocating the drum to a remote-controlled offset arm that can be attached to almost any grader , compact track loader , wheel loader or skid steer — immediately solving the safety issue . By employing an attachment , the host machine provides a separate source of power for the compaction drum and , thanks to the offset arm , enhances stability and safety for the operator .
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