This week’s safety spotlight is on the Asphalt business, who are currently working on adding extra safeguards on our bitumen tanks; they have telemetry that texts Jason Barker and the Site Manager if the bitumen temperature goes above or below set perimeters.

This has two benefits – it warns if the heating has gone off so they have time to investigate and it doesn’t affect our ability to supply customers, and also provides early warning if the temperature starts to elevate. If bitumen elevates in temperature it can explode or set on fire.

At Preston they have built a Parking/Maintenance bay for the loading shovel at the side of the weigh bridge. This bay allows the shovel to be completely secluded from site traffic and can be worked on safely. It is also much safer for conducting the daily mobile plant checks. A mirror has been installed directly behind the bay for easier checking of lights functioning.