The UK's first ever production remote control dumper has been developed and launched by two British entrepreneurs, who are on a mission to make construction, maintenance and engineering sites much safer with their innovative plant hire equipment.
The Shannon Solo, mini hi-tip dumper has been developed by Stuart Selway and Ryan Symes to address the number of health and safety risks that are found in work places where plant hire equipment, like dumper trucks are used.
Health and Safety has now become the number one concern for industries that use plant equipment because of strong legislation and regulation around this issue. In response to this, Shannon has launched the UK's first ever remote control hi-tip dumper named the Shannon Solo and is developing a range of other remote control plant hire equipment.
The Shannon Solo dumper is able to operate remotely up to a distance of 100m without an operator close to it, so it reduces the risks to anyone that is using it.
Stuart Selway, Director at Shannon Plant South West believes the Shannon Solo can really help on sites with a gradient or where there is a risk to the person operating the dumper. He says:
"Because the Shannon Solo is operated by a remote control, it is safe to be used in hazardous areas, considerably reducing the number of times a person is exposed to the danger. It can be used in quarries or demolition sites where there is a threat of falling debris, near deep water where people would normally be at risk, or in other dangerous areas like airports, power stations and railway sites."
Other hazards that can be reduced by using the Shannon Solo are confined spaces, narrow access, busy highways, contaminated land like asbestos and unstable ground.
The Solo can make tasks performed by dumpers much easier than a traditional dumper. For example an excavator can be used in conjunction with the remote dumper, which turns into a one person job, rather than a two person operation.
Ryan Symes, Director at Shannon Plant South West adds:
"The Shannon Solo can be used in areas that are considered dangerous for people to go. The Solo saves time, money and makes tasks much easier and safer. We developed the product because we were convinced there was a need for dumpers that can be operated remotely to ensure plant operators have the maximum safety."
The first Shannon Solo product to go on sale is the remote control dumper and will be launched and available from the Executive Hire Show Wednesday 9 to Thursday 10 February 2011, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on stand C35. The Solo dumper can lift up to 500 kilos, has a scissor lift action and is capable of loading a standard skip. The remote mower, sprayer, post rammer and dozer blade will be launched in the spring of 2011.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Health and Safety Executive statistics revealed this year, show there were 42 fatal injuries in the construction industry from 2009 to 2010, with a rate of 2.2 deaths per 100,000 workers. Meanwhile in the same year there were 26,840 injuries reported by process, plant and machine operatives.
CASE STUDY: ACCIDENTS HAPPEN WITH TRADITIONAL DUMPERS.
The risks associated with operating dumper trucks was highlighted in May 2010 when Bridgend County Borough Council was fined for an incident that saw a driver injured after his dumper truck overturned.
A council employee was driving the one tonne vehicle through woodland when the truck began to slide. It then toppled over - trapping the driver's left leg between the vehicle and a tree. He needed to be airlifted to hospital for an operation on his broken leg.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation showed the vehicle was not suitable for the gradient where it was being used.